reflection
rɪˈflɛkʃən
noun
Origin
Latin
reflectere — to bend back, turn back
Overview
Meaning Now
- The throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.
- Serious thought or consideration.
- An idea or opinion produced by serious thinking.
Literal older meaning
a bending back
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
reflexion
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The transition from the literal physical meaning (reflection of light) to the intellectual meaning (contemplation) mirrors the development of Latin 'reflectere', where the metaphor of 'turning the mind back' upon itself became established in academic discourse during the Middle Ages.
Evolution
- Latin
reflectere
“to bend back”
- Old French
reflexion
“an act of bending back”
- Middle English
reflexion
“the action of turning back light or thoughts”
Spelling variation with 'x' was common early on.
- Early Modern English
reflection
“the current sense of contemplation and optical reflection”
Shift from 'x' to 'ct' influenced by Latin spelling.
Connections
Word parts
re-
prefix
back or again
flect
root
to bend
-ion
suffix
result of an action
Related across languages
French
réflexion
reflection
Spanish
reflexión
reflection
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Related to reflection
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.