reflecto

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [rɛˈfɫɛk.toː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈflɛk.to]^[1]

Forms

reflectō (present infinitive reflectere, perfect active reflexī, supine reflexum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from re- “back” and flectō “to bend”.^[2][1][3] Its first syllable is usually short, often at the end of a hexameter.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of turning someone back from a course.^[2] Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to bend back, as Lucretius, of parts of the body, as Cicero, and Pliny's dogs that bend their tails under them.^[2][5] It meant to turn round, as in Virgil, and pedēs reflectere to retrace one's steps, as in Catullus, and in Ovid to turn away the gaze.^[2] From Terence it meant to turn a person or his mind back from a course, and to reverse a sequence.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to turn back, divert, reflect.^[6] English reflect came in the late 14th century through Old French, first meaning to turn or bend back, and English reflex from Late Latin reflexus about 1500.^[7]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of turning back.^[2][4]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of bending back.^[2][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of turning round.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English reflect is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To bend back.^[2]
2. To turn round; to retrace one's steps; to turn away.^[2]
3. To turn back, divert; to reverse.^[2]
4. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To reflect.^[6]

Word family

• reflexim
• reflexiō
• reflexus

Related words

• flectō
• English reflect
• English reflex

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com