*flection*

n. [ L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf. F. déflexion. ] 1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, esp. downward; deviation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections. Lowth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gunnery) The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Opt.) A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Engin.) The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own weight or by reason of a load. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of freeing from inflections. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To free from inflections. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Flexion. ] 1. The act of bending, or state of being bent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The variation of words by declension, comparison, or conjugation; inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of, or pertaining to, flection or inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

A flectional word is a phrase in the bud. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. génuflexion, fr. LL. genuflexio, fr. L. genu knee + flexio a bending, fr. flectere, flexum, to bend. See Knee, Flexible. ] The act of bending the knee, particularly in worship or reverence. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. inflexio : cf. F. inflexion. See Inflect. ] [ Written also inflecxion. ] 1. The act of inflecting, or the state of being inflected. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bend; a fold; a curve; a turn; a twist. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A slide, modulation, or accent of the voice; as, the rising and the falling inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) The variation or change which words undergo to mark case, gender, number, comparison, tense, person, mood, voice, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) (a) Any change or modification in the pitch or tone of the voice. (b) A departure from the monotone, or reciting note, in chanting. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Opt.) Same as Diffraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Point of inflection (Geom.), the point on opposite sides of which a curve bends in contrary ways. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to inflection; having, or characterized by, inflection. Max Müller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of reflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not admitting of, or characterized by, inflection. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. reflexio: cf. F. réflexion. See Riflect. ] [ Written also reflexion. ] 1. The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically: (a) The return of rays, beams, sound, or the like, from a surface. See Angle of reflection, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) The reverting of the mind to that which has already occupied it; continued consideration; meditation; contemplation; hence, also, that operation or power of the mind by which it is conscious of its own acts or states; the capacity for judging rationally, especially in view of a moral rule or standard. [ 1913 Webster ]

By reflection, . . . I would be understood to mean, that notice which the mind takes of its own operations, and the manner of them, by reason whereof there come to be ideas of these operations in the understanding. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

This delight grows and improves under thought and reflection. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Shining; brightness, as of the sun. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is produced by reflection. Specifically: (a) An image given back from a reflecting surface; a reflected counterpart. [ 1913 Webster ]

As the sun water we can bear,
Yet not the sun, but his reflection, there. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A part reflected, or turned back, at an angle; as, the reflection of a membrane. (c) Result of meditation; thought or opinion after attentive consideration or contemplation; especially, thoughts suggested by truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Job's reflections on his once flourishing estate did at the same time afflict and encourage him. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Censure; reproach cast. [ 1913 Webster ]

He died; and oh! may no reflection shed
Its poisonous venom on the royal dead. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Physiol.) The transference of an excitement from one nerve fiber to another by means of the nerve cells, as in reflex action. See Reflex action, under Reflex. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angle of reflection, the angle which anything, as a ray of light, on leaving a reflecting surface, makes with the perpendicular to the surface. --
Angle of total reflection. (Opt.) Same as Critical angle, under Critical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Meditation; contemplation; rumination; cogitation; consideration; musing; thinking. [ 1913 Webster ]