Dictionary entry

Reflexive

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Re‐flex″ive (–?v), a. 1. [Cf. F. réflexif.] Bending or turned backward; reflective; having respect to something past.

Assurance reflexive can not be a divine faith. Hammond.

2. Implying censure. “What man does not resent an ugly reflexive word?” South.

3. (Gram.) Having for its direct object a pronoun which refers to the agent or subject as its antecedent; — said of certain verbs; as, the witness perjured himself; I bethought myself. Applied also to pronouns of this class; reciprocal; reflective.

— Re‐flex″ive‐ly, adv. — Re‐flex″ive‐ness, n.