reflecto Latin · revision 7199

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Terence|origins=la flectō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [rɛˈfɫɛk.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈflɛk.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''reflectō''' (present infinitive reflectere, perfect active reflexī, supine reflexum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[re-]] “back” and [[flectō]] “to bend”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Its first syllable is usually short, often at the end of a hexameter.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Terence, of turning someone back from a course.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Terence 190–159 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) 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.^(OLD 2012) From Terence it meant to turn a person or his mind back from a course, and to reverse a sequence.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to turn back, divert, reflect.^(Stelten 1995) [[en|reflect]] came in the late 14th century through Old French, first meaning to turn or bend back, and [[en|reflex]] from Late Latin ''reflexus'' about 1500.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of turning back.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of bending back.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of turning round.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''reflect'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bend back.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To turn round; to retrace one's steps; to turn away.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To turn back, divert; to reverse.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' To [[m|en|reflect]].^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reflexim]]

+ * [[reflexiō]]

+ * [[reflexus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[flectō]]

+ * [[en|reflect]]

+ * [[en|reflex]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}