REFLEXION • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Reflexion

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noun

Reflection n. (Written also reflexion)

1.

The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically:

(a)

The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. See Angle of reflection, below. "The eye sees not itself, But by reflection, by some other things."

(b)

The reverting of the mind to that which has already occupied it; continued consideration; meditation; contemplation; hence, also, that operation or power of the mind by which it is conscious of its own acts or states; the capacity for judging rationally, especially in view of a moral rule or standard. "By reflection,... I would be understood to mean, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them, by reason whereof there come to be ideas of these operations in the understanding." "This delight grows and improves under thought and reflection."

2.

Shining; brightness, as of the sun. (Obs.)

3.

That which is produced by reflection. Specifically:

(a)

An image given back from a reflecting surface; a reflected counterpart. "As the sun water we can bear, Yet not the sun, but his reflection, there."

(b)

A part reflected, or turned back, at an angle; as, the reflection of a membrane.

(c)

Result of meditation; thought or opinion after attentive consideration or contemplation; especially, thoughts suggested by truth. "Job's reflections on his once flourishing estate did at the same time afflict and encourage him."

4.

Censure; reproach cast. "He died; and oh! may no reflection shed Its poisonous venom on the royal dead."

5.

(Physiol.) The transference of an excitement from one nerve fiber to another by means of the nerve cells, as in reflex action. See Reflex action, under Reflex.

Angle of reflection, the angle which anything, as a ray of light, on leaving a reflecting surface, makes with the perpendicular to the surface.

Angle of total reflection. (Opt.) Same as Critical angle, under Critical.

Synonyms: Meditation; contemplation; rumination; cogitation; consideration; musing; thinking.

Reflexion n. See Reflection.

See images of 'Reflexion'

Etymology of 'Reflexion'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Reflexion" Quotes from Famous Books

... than usual, from superabundance, not of leisure, but of affection, because, if you remember, you asked me in one of your letters to write you something to prevent you feeling sorry at having missed the games. And if I have succeeded in that, I am glad: if not, I yet console myself with this reflexion, that in future you will both come to the games and come to see me, and will not leave your hope of enjoyment ...

— Letters of Cicero • Marcus Tullius Cicero

... the reality dawned the mental image, retiring with a sigh, became substantial enough to suffer a slight wrong. Overt, who had spent a considerable part of his short life in foreign lands, made now, but not for the first time, the reflexion that whereas in those countries he had almost always recognised the artist and the man of letters by his personal "type," the mould of his face, the character of his head, the expression of his figure and even the indications of his dress, so ...

— The Lesson of the Master • Henry James

... cher Cousin, vous paraitra un paradoxe: mais un moment de reflexion politique, un coup d'oeil sur la situation des choses en Amerique, et la verite de mon opinion brillera dans tout son jour. [Nobody will obey, unless necessity compel him: VOILA LES HOMMES; GENE of any kind a nuisance to them; and of all men in the world ...

— History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIX. (of XXI.) • Thomas Carlyle

... under the influence of the most interesting of great cities was to have nothing to do with any betise of the imputably "tempted" state; he was to be thrown forward, rather, thrown quite with violence, upon his lifelong trick of intense reflexion: which friendly test indeed was to bring him out, through winding passages, through alternations of darkness and light, very much IN Paris, but with the surrounding scene itself a minor matter, a mere symbol for more things than ...

— The Ambassadors • Henry James

... single and easie reflexion, that can absolutely determine whether two letters have resemblance and proportion, because there are some of them that being made up of the movements of severall organs, maybe differently alter'd according to their various resemblances, so the letter H. carrys not only the resemblance ...

— A Philosophicall Essay for the Reunion of the Languages - Or, The Art of Knowing All by the Mastery of One • Pierre Besnier

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