reflex
UK: ˈriːflɛks | US: ˈriːflɛks
n. 1. An involuntary or instinctive physical response to a stimulus.
n. 2. A reflected source of light, heat, or sound.
adj. 1. (Of an action) performed without conscious thought as a reaction to a stimulus.
reflex = re<back> + flex<bend>
- re: Latin prefix meaning "back" or "again."
- flex: From Latin flectere, meaning "to bend."
Etymology Origin:
The word reflex originates from Latin reflectere (to bend back), combining re- (back) and flectere (to bend). It initially described physical phenomena like light or sound bouncing back, later extending to involuntary bodily reactions (e.g., a knee jerk) metaphorically "bending back" to a stimulus. The logic reflects a literal-to-figurative shift, mirroring the word’s core idea of reversal or response.
The doctor tested her knee-jerk reflex with a small hammer.
The reflex of sunlight on the water created a dazzling effect.
Sneezing is a natural reflex to irritants in the nose.
His quick reflexes saved him from falling off the bike.
The cat’s reflex to pounce on moving objects is instinctive.