reflex
UK[ˈriːflɛks]US[ˈriːflɛks]
n
An action that is performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.
n
Something that reproduces or reflects the essential features of something else.
adj
(of an action) performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
flex
re
back
flex
bend
Etymology
The word 'reflex' entered English in the early 16th century from Latin reflexus, the past participle of reflectere, meaning 'to bend back'. The Latin verb is itself a compound of the prefix re- ('back') and flectere ('to bend'). The original physical sense of light or an object being 'bent back' evolved metaphorically. In physiology, it came to describe a nerve impulse 'bent back' from the spinal cord without reaching the brain, leading to the modern meaning of an automatic, unthinking reaction.
Analysis
Structure: re (back) + flex (bend)
- re: A Latin prefix meaning "back" or "again." It indicates direction or repetition.
- flex: From Latin flectere, meaning "to bend." In this word, it retains the core sense of bending.
Examples
The doctor tested the patient's knee-jerk reflex by tapping the tendon.
Sneezing is a reflex action triggered by irritation in the nasal passages.
His angry outburst was a pure reflex, a direct response to the perceived insult.