reflect
UK[rɪˈflɛkt]US[rɪˈflɛkt]
v
(of a surface or body) to throw back (light, heat, or sound) without absorbing it.
v
to think deeply or carefully about something.
v
to show or be a sign of a particular situation or feeling.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
flect
re
back, again
flect
to bend
Etymology
The word 'reflect' originates from the Latin verb reflectere, a compound of re- ("back") and flectere ("to bend"). Its original, literal sense was "to bend back," which perfectly describes the physical action of light or sound being bent back from a surface. This core concept of "turning back" evolved metaphorically to describe the action of the mind "bending back" upon itself, giving rise to the meaning of deep or careful thought. Finally, the sense of "to show" or "be a sign of" developed from the idea of a surface mirroring or throwing back an image, representing a quality or condition.
Analysis
Structure: re (back, again) + flect (to bend)
're-' is a Latin prefix meaning "back" or "again." 'flect' is from the Latin root flectere, meaning "to bend."
Examples
The still water perfectly reflected the mountains.
He took a moment to reflect on his decision.
The election results reflect a change in public opinion.