reflexive

¹re·flex·ive

adjective \ri-ˈflek-siv\

Definition of REFLEXIVE

1

a : directed or turned back on itself; also : overtly and usually ironically reflecting conventions of genre or form <a reflexive novel>

b : marked by or capable of reflection : reflective

2

: of, relating to, characterized by, or being a relation that exists between an entity and itself <the relation “is equal to” is reflexive but the relation “is the father of” is not>

3

: of, relating to, or constituting an action (as in “he perjured himself”) directed back on the agent or the grammatical subject

4

: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior

— re·flex·ive·ly adverb

— re·flex·ive·ness noun

— re·flex·iv·i·ty \ˌrē-ˌflek-ˈsi-və-tē, ri-\ noun

Examples of REFLEXIVE

1. In “I hurt myself,” the verb “hurt” is reflexive.
2. In the sentence “We forced ourselves to finish the assignment,” the word “ourselves” is a reflexive pronoun.
3. For many people, the reflexive response to this kind of demand is to say no.
4. music that triggers reflexive toe tapping

Origin of REFLEXIVE

Medieval Latin reflexivus, from Latin reflexus

First Known Use: 1640

²reflexive

noun

Definition of REFLEXIVE

: reflexive pronoun

First Known Use of REFLEXIVE

1866

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

re·flex·ive

adjective \ri-ˈflek-siv\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of REFLEXIVE

: characterized by habitual and unthinking behavior; also : relating to or consisting of a reflex