Dictionary

reflectively en · ADV

Etymology

Etymology tree English reflective Middle English -ly English -ly English reflectively From reflective + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a reflective manner; meditatively.
   • "I should say yes," agreed George. "And talk about speed!" he added. "Wow! One ball he threw soaked me in the ear. I can feel it yet!" and he rubbed the side of his head reflectively. 1912, Stratemeyer Syndicate, chapter 1, in Baseball Joe on the School Nine:
   • "Spuds - Jim - Jimmy?" he ran his fingers reflectively through his hair, and frowned. "Bowles," he added triumphantly. 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 6:
   • Blake picked his teeth reflectively with the point of a clasp knife. 1945, Tom Ronan, Strangers on the Ophir, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 110:
2. By means of reflection.
   • In JIT compilation, the running program is reflectively modified by an embedded compiler, which only uses two reflective operations […] 2024, Egon Börger, Vincenzo Gervasi, Structures of Computing: A Guide to Practice-Oriented Theory, page 108:

Forms