reflectiveadj.n.
/rᵻˈflɛktɪv/, U.S. /rəˈflɛktɪv/, /riˈflɛktɪv/ A. adj.† 4. That reflects negatively on, upon, or against a person; characterized by or containing criticisms; disparaging, injurious; cf. reflecting adj. 3. Obsolete.
1.
a. Of a person, a person's attributes, etc.: given to deep or careful thought, esp. as directed inwards at oneself or of a spiritual nature; characterized by this quality; thoughtful, contemplative, philosophical; introspective.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > [adjective]
thoughtfulc1175
contemplative1340
considerativec1449
musing1449
studient1532
pondering1566
contemplatory1576
speculative1578
considerate1581
reflective1581
theorical1594
theoric?1600
theoretical1608
meditative1611
thoughtsome1627
reflexive1630
reflecting1632
revolutive1637
cogitativea1639
thoughtive1654
lucubratory1656
thinkful1668
theoretic1701
ruminatinga1704
reflectious1715
ruminative1774
thinking1799
meditative1831
ruminant1849
meditational1864
penseful1865
1581 B. Rich Don Simonides I. sig. Sij These eyes of yours, should (if thei were reflectiue) haue some remorse on exceedyng Beautie.
1644 J. Saltmarsh Dawnings of Light 59 This reflective disposition, or self jealousie I find much awanting in many.
1741 G. Ogle Canterbury Tales II. 201 But young Camballo's more reflective Mind From his great Sire's immediate Temper drew A softer Turn.
1785 E. Perronet Occas. Verses 28 The prodigal scarce lifts his eye, But heaves the deep reflective sigh.
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 6 688 The very model of an accomplished, reflective, and affectionate English matron.
a1834 S. T. Coleridge Specimens of Table Talk (1835) II. 268 Elegy is the form of poetry natural to the reflective mind.
1870 C. Dickens Edwin Drood iii. 16 Until her face, which has been comically reflective, brightens.
1941 Times 29 Aug. 3/4 In his quiet, reflective way he has come to know how we look at problems and tackle them.
1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 7 Oct. The pontiff, solemn and reflective exhorted the priests to look upon Mary as a model in our pilgrimage of faith.
1990 H. P. Chapman Rembrandt's Self-portraits Introd. 4 Dürer is a classic example of the reflective individual born to self-scrutiny.
b. That proceeds from or is the result of careful thinking, typically influenced by recollection of one's past experiences; considered, measured.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > [adjective] > relating to careful thought
delivered1499
deliberative?1520
deep1586
considered1604
reflective1625
reflectional1848
1625 T. Jackson Treat. Originall of Vnbeliefe vi. li. 460 The fruits of other mens labours..we like no farther, then as they fit those moulds of our speculatiue reflectiue conceites, which haue their seate in the superior part of the soule, and scarce communicate with affection.
1678 J. Brown Quakerisme Path-way to Paganisme v. 95 Meaneth he by this Touch & Sensation a Reflective knowledge, or such a reflexive act of the Soul or of Conscience, whereby we know that we know?
1762 Ld. Kames Elements Crit. I. ii. 110 A slight or superficial narrative produceth only a faint and incomplete idea, precisely similar to a reflective recollection of memory.
1810 W. Wordsworth in S. T. Coleridge Friend 22 Feb. 414 It is to be remembered, that to raise a Monument is a sober and a reflective act.
1863 E. V. Neale Analogy Thought & Nature vi. 71 The first half of such a judgment as ‘the bridge is of iron, therefore it is strong’, is only reflective.
1934 M. Bodkin Archetypal Patterns in Poetry 314 An hypothesis..that archetypal patterns, or images, are present within the experience communicated through poetry, and may be discovered there by reflective analysis.
1967 Brain 90 434 Tests were graded according to difficulty... As to whether stimuli were evoking reflective (‘least automatic’) or ‘most automatic’ responses.
2004 Archit. Rev. June 27/1 Penone works at a steady reflective pace, freeing his mind to contemplate future work while his hands labour; carving, moulding, tracing, or collaging.
c. Of or relating to deep or careful thought, esp. as directed inwards at oneself or of a spiritual nature; characterized by or (of mental faculties, etc.) facilitating this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > [adjective]
contemplative1340
thoughtfula1400
considering1483
revolving1597
deliberative1602
ponderative1610
reflexive1630
ponderous1632
reflecting1632
reflectivea1640
perpensive1647
balancing1850
meditative1876
a1640 W. Fenner Christs Alarm (1646) xix. 366 Memory can properly be nowhere but where apprehension is; either sensitive apprehention [sic] as in fancie; or intellectuall apprehension, as in the minde; or reflective apprehension as in the conscience.
1678 J. Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 276 The Soul, whose reflective Faculty will not fail to give her information.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity i, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 424 Forc'd by reflective reason, I confess, That human science is uncertain guess.
1817 W. Combe Dance of Life ii. 73 When Misfortune's wak'ning power Compels the sad, reflective hour.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table vi. 147 My friend, the Poet, says, that rapidly growing towns are most unfavourable to the imaginative and reflective faculties.
1893 W. S. Gilbert Utopia (Limited) i. 4 Oh, think how much more brilliant this dialogue would have been, if we had been accustomed to exercise our reflective powers!
1920 Times 3 Feb. 10/2 In the quiet, reflective passages of the part one could wish for no better Hamlet; he really seems to be thinking it out there and then.
1957 F. O'Connor Let. 19 Oct. in Habit of Being (1979) 247 I think he should be sent for a reflective spell to the nearest Dominican Saltmine.
2007 Independent 22 Mar. 26/1 Yesterday, after a twisting, reflective journey of reinvention, Mr Gore returned to deliver a message..for..the entire world.
2.
a. That gives back an image or reflection of an object, that mirrors or reproduces; (more widely) that reflects light, either regularly (like a mirror) or diffusely (like desert sand). Also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > representation > [adjective] > as in a mirror
reflective1624
mirroring1837
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective] > reproducing an object
reflective1624
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > reflection > [adjective]
reflective1624
reflecting1710
retroreflective1937
1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον i. 18 A bodie cristaline, like reflectiue glasse, transferres the light receiued from her [sc. the Moon's] father, vpon the earth to vs.
1650 J. Reynolds Flower of Fidelitie 19 Phoebus..took this Chrystal spring to be his reflective mirrour.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia Table sig. Mm/1 They [sc. the eyes of a Drone-fly] are Hemispheres, and very reflective and smooth.
1718 M. Prior Solomon on Vanity iii, in Poems Several Occasions (new ed.) 502 In the reflective stream the sighing bride, Viewing her charms impair'd, abash'd shall hide Her pensive head.
1758 H. Lee Sophron II. 290 That it is not God's design we should view this prophetic body of divinity, as reflective of the light of the gospel sun of grace.
1791 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. I i. 156 Each bright stream,..Reflective fountain, and tumultuous tide.
1835 R. Mant Brit. Months 102 The glass reflective of the blooming grass.
1867 G. F. Chambers Descr. Astron. 73 The Moon presents an irregular mottled appearance; this arises from our satellite being unequally reflective.
1885 J. Ruskin Præterita I. vi. 175 The polished floor..as reflective as a mahogany table.
1934 Amer. Home Mar. 199/1 The furniture is of ecru-walnut with highly reflective surfaces.
2006 Philadelphia Inquirer 6 Aug. n7/1 The bags are made of tough nylon lined with waterproof vinyl, and have..reflective strips on the bottom.
b. figurative and in extended use. Chiefly with of. That expresses, demonstrates, or embodies an inner or underlying condition, cause, etc.; expressive, symptomatic.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > expression > [adjective] > serving to express
reflective1640
expressive1713
society > communication > manifestation > [adjective] > having property or function of
ostensivec1570
exhibitive1596
reflective1640
declarative1642
manifestative1642
eductive1654
manifestive1846
society > communication > indication > [adjective] > indicating or indicative of > symptomatic
symptomatical1629
reflective1640
symptomatic1751
1640 W. Habington Queene of Arragon iii. i. sig. F Because I cannot adde a splendor to my name Reflective from a royall pedegree; You interdict my Language.
?a1650 W. Bosworth Chast & Lost Lovers (1651) 94 Glance on those flowers thy radiant eyes, Through which cleer beams they'l sympathize Reflective love.
1791 E. Jerningham Shakspeare Gallery (ed. 2) 20 Lo! the bold Roman to our view consign'd, His air reflective of his haughty mind.
1848 Gilfillan in Tait's Edinb. Mag. 15 511 A man's times are reflective of the man, as well as a man of the times.
1877 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 10) 513 As with thine own vitality,..Insentient of its mighty source, because Reflective of thine attributes.
1921 Times 15 Sept. 5/7 (advt.) Nowhere else in Britain is there a collection so beautiful or so authoritatively reflective of what the World of Dress acclaims as ‘right’.
1979 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 5 Dec. Latin Americans are involved in a battle to create a cinema reflective of their cultures and concerns, as opposed to a characterless cosmopolitan international cinema.
2003 A. Miah Genetically Modified Athletes (2004) i. 5 This conflict of views is also reflective of the discourse surrounding the genetic enhancement of anything.
3.
a. Of light: produced by reflection; reflected. Also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective] > reflected
reflexeda1425
repercussive1598
resultant1615
reflective1635
reflect1647
reflex1653
reflected1667
1635 tr. S. Dupleix Resoluer 152 The neighbour Ayre being heated by the reflective rayes of the Sun, the heat extends it selfe, and dissipateth sooner.
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 ccliii. 64 His Beams he to his Royal Brother lent, And so shone still in his reflective light.
1744 Ornithologia Nova II. 310 The reflective rays of the Sun give them [sc. the marks of a hummingbird] an exceeding beautifull appearance.
1773 J. Ross Fratricide (MS) iv. 357 Now their broad blades encount'ring in mid air Shot through the darkness a reflective light.
1846 B. Hofland Daniel Dennison I. 204 Woman polishes more quickly than man;—she catches the evanescent and reflective lights which occasionally glance on her path, and generally turns them to the happiest account.
1867 P. J. Bailey Universal Hymn 6 Moon, whose gleam Reflective, types the God-light, wherewith shines Man's soul.
1995 A. B. Dawson Hamlet v. 134 The cold reflective gleam of the parquet floors.
2004 S. Crabtree & P. Beudert Scenic Art for Theatre (ed. 2) ix. 330/2 If the reflective light is bouncing off a different colored surface,..the reflective light will take on the characteristics of the surface it is bouncing off.
b. Of properties, techniques, etc.: of or relating to the reflection of light; involving or employing reflection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > reflection > [adjective]
faw?a1400
relusantc1400
relucentc1487
splendent1578
sparkling1590
reflecting1591
speculable1592
reflectent1644
reflective1658
reflexious1659
reflexivea1660
specular1661
reflectant1669
reverberant1733
catoptrica1774
reverberatory1790
1658 J. Lyon App. touching Refl. Dialling 9 in J. Collins Sector on Quadrant (1659) All Reflective Dialling is performed from that principle in Opticks, which is, That the angle of Incidence is equal to the angle of Reflection.
1664 R. Boyle Exper. & Considerations Colours Contents sig. a3v Besides all these, Eight Reflective causes of Colours, there may be in Transparent Bodies several Refractive.
1739 E. Carter tr. F. Algarotti Sir I. Newton's Philos. Explain'd II. 227 Where the attractive Force is greatest, the reflective and repulsive is greatest also.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XI. 422/1 To this reflective property metals owe their peculiar lustre, called the metallic lustre.
1867 Trans. Exeter Dioc. Archit. Soc. 1 105 All the panels are filled with plate glass, the reflective power of which is greatly admired.
1885 Mag. Art Sept. 471/2 The employment..of glazes which are dull and have little more reflective power than paint.
1966 in Chemists through Years: Pt. II (Royal Soc. Chem.) (1994) 235/1 In 1809 he invented the reflective goniometer for the measurement of crystal angles.
2002 D. Harris Portable Writing Desks 33 The mother-of-pearl is over-painted thinly to allow the reflective quality of the material to show through.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [adjective]
horyc1000
missayingc1330
slandering1402
disclanderous1421
maligningc1425
defamatoryc1485
calumnious1490
defamative1502
slanderous?1521
infaming1535
obtractuous1537
defaminga1550
defamous1557
black-mouthed1560
sycophanticala1566
malignious1578
libelling1587
blasting1591
maledicent1599
traducing1601
black-throated1604
blasphemous1605
depraving1606
abusive1608
calumniating1609
obloquious1611
vilifying1611
infamatory1612
calumniatory1625
aspersionating1639
aspersive1642
scandalizing1646
reflexive1654
unworthying1654
reflecting1656
reflective1664
slanderful1669
aspersing1673
reflectious1715
traducent1736
obloquial1790
sycophantic1801
wronging1845
trash-talking1975
1664 Justiciary Court Rec. 86 A long and reflective Petition given in be Edward Billings to the Privy Councill against the Lady Bairfoot.
1668 S. Pepys Diary 13 Sept. (1976) IX. 305 Little [is] said reflective on me, though W. Penn and J. Mennes do mean me in one or two places.
1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra iii. v. 33 At such times Men are too apt to entertain cruel thoughts of God, and sadly reflective upon his Mercy or Justice.
5. Grammar. = reflexive adj. 5. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > other grammatical categories or concepts > [adjective] > reflexive
reciprocal1611
reflexive1677
reflective1716
reflected1719
reflex1810
1716 F. Cheneau Perfect French Master 28 Any Verb active may be a reciprocal or reflective Verb.
1772 W. Ross French Scholar's Guide i. viii. 158 It is sometimes necessary to put..entre before it, which is joined to the verb in such a manner as to make part of it, otherwise it might be taken for a reflective verb.
1805 H. T. Colebrooke Gram. Sanscrit Lang. I. xvi. ii. 132 The active, or..the middle or reflective voice.
1843 Penny Cycl. XXVI. 253/1 The so-called Reflective verb is in form either a transitive verb..or a passive verb.
1883 Overland Monthly Oct. 392/1 Monsieur Deane was learning a reflective verb—he always had such difficulty with them.
1970 I. Michael Eng. Grammatical Categories II. xii. 391 Reflective verb. An occasional term for reflected. Reflexive does not seem to be used in the grammars before 1800.
6. Reflex, reciprocal. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > correlation > [adjective] > mutual or reciprocal
evena1425
interchangeablec1450
relativea1500
reciprocativea1504
mutual1513
reciproque?1533
reciprocous1567
requiteda1586
intermutual1595
alternate1600
commutual1604
vicissitudinary1629
reciprocal1632
reflexivea1635
reciprocated1663
related1671
mutuous1683
turn about1802
interdependent1817
interrelated1827
reciprocating1827
reciprocate1833
transmutuala1834
reflective1839
interpendent1855
interradiating1858
two-way1950
1839 I. Taylor Anc. Christianity I. 386 Could such things happen without producing a reflective effect on the religious sentiments and manners of the men most nearly concerned?
1987 Noûs 21 508 The unity of arithmetic allows us to obtain the ‘reflective’ effect which, in the Tractatus, followed from the impossibility of getting out of the language.
1999 D. L. Moore in L. K. Barnett & J. L. Thorson L. M. Silko 156 Silko's own persona as witness derives partially from the heteroglossia of the text itself. This quality, moving through so many voices, has the reflective effect of foregrounding the author as performer.
1. A mirror. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > optical instruments > mirror > [noun]
sunshineeOE
showerOE
glass13..
mirrorc1330
spectaclec1430
mirror glass1440
beryl-glass1540
reflecting glass?a1560
reflective1720
show-glass1810
shiner1819
1720 D. Manley Secret Mem. (ed. 6) II. 251 If any one were but for ten Years forbid that View, and then to have the Reflective [(ed. 1) Perspective] brought,..they would be..at a Loss to know their own outward Form.
2. In plural. The reflective faculties (esp. in phrenology) (see sense A. 1c.). Also: the (supposed) physical location of these faculties. Often contrasted with perceptive. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1835 Lancet 26 Dec. 504/1 The term rather large, should be applied to the intellectual indication, the lower perceptives being very large, and the reflectives moderate.
1852 G. S. Weaver Lect. Mental Sci. x. 192 I have in my mind an idea of his [sc. Colonel Fremont's] forehead... I imagine that the Perceptives are much more strongly developed in his head than the Reflectives.
1875 T. J. Rice Departure xxiii. 264 Plainly enough doth the history of this people reveal the existence of their strong perceptive organs and weak reflectives.
1889 O. Dyer Great Senators U.S. Forty Years Ago vi. 252 His [sc. Daniel Webster] brow was so protuberant that his eyes, though unusually large, seemed sunken... But large as his Perceptive organs were, his Reflectives bulged out over them.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1581