= recurved, adj. 1; (in later use) esp. designating a bow having tips that curve away from the archer.

Bent back, backward curving.

Bent back; = recurved, adj. 1.

Twisted or bent backwards; recurved. Obsolete.

Chiefly Anatomy and Zoology. Bent, folded, or turned back; recurved. Cf. reflexed, adj. 2a.

With past participles, forming adjectives (chiefly poetic), as back-drawn, back-flung, back-thrown, back-turned, etc.

Of light, heat, an image, etc.: reflected, thrown back. Also: owing to or caused by reflection. Also figurative and in figurative contexts. Now rare.

Chiefly Botany and Zoology. Bent back; having a backward curve.

Turned backwards or the wrong way; bent back; reversed.

Chiefly Botany and Zoology. Bent, folded, or turned back; recurved; having a recurved part or parts. Now rare.

= recurved, adj. 1.

Bent, directed, or turned backwards. Cf. retroflexed, adj.

= retrorse, adj.