Dictionary

reflexion en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ɹɪˈflɛkʃ(ə)n/ (UK)

Etymology

From Middle English reflexion, reflexioun, from Middle French reflexion and its etymon Late Latin reflexiō; the variant spelling reflection is due to influence from correction.

Meanings

1. (UK, countable, uncountable) Dated spelling of reflection.
   • Now, I say, why Time should be so burthensome to such as these, or what should betray them to such infrugal Expences of it, I can give no account without making severe Reflexions on their Discretion. 1684, John Goodman, A Winter-Evening Conference between neighbours:
   • Reflexion near 48 μm was provided by strong reststrahl reflexion from ZnSe used in the multilayer construction. 1973, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London; Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences, volume 334, London: Royal Society of London, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 161:
   • “Connexion” is the etymological (ie, “correct”) spelling. That is to say, our word is derived from an actual Latin noun, cf. deflexion, inflexion, and reflexion. […] And it might make life easier to abolish the letter “x”. But why should we cut off the fascinating roots of our words? I should carry on preferring “connexion”. [2005 April 11, Philip Howard, “Modern Manners”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Apr 2026:
   • He gets off the train, determined not to leave town after all. But a little further reflexion shows him the folly of such a course. 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
   • Fig 1. Assessment of venous refilling time (T₀)(analog recording by light reflexion rheograph). 2005 February, Markus Stücker et al., “Changes in venous refilling time from childhood to adulthood in subjects with apparently normal veins”, in Journal of Vascular Surgery, volume 41, number 2, New York, N.Y.: Elsevier, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Mar 2013, page 298, column 1:
2. (countable, uncountable) An act or instance of referring back to the subject of a sentence, or of having an object equal to the subject.

Forms

Deriveds

reflexional

Relateds

diffraction · refraction