Search the Dictionary

Act of returning; return. [Obs.] Chapman.

A frame with radial arms, or a kind of spool, turning on an axis, on which yarn, threads, lines, or the like, are wound; as, a log reel, used by seamen; an angler's reel; a garden reel.

The act of reflecting, or turning or sending back, or the state of being reflected. Specifically:

k; attended by reflection; retroactive; introspective. The reflex act of the soul, or the turning of the intellectual eye inward upon its own actions. Sir M. Hale.

Flowing back; returning; ebbing. Cowper. And refluent through the pass of fear The battle's tide was poured. Sir W. Scott.

Returning, or flowing back; reflex; as, reflux action.

A returning or giving of thanks. [Obs.] Skelton.

The act of passing back or returning; retrogression; retrogradation. Sir T. Browne. Edge of regression (of a surface) (Geom.), the line along which a surface turns back upon itself; -- called also a cuspidal edge. -- Regression point (Geom.), a cusp.

Passing back; returning.

in course, practice, or occurence; not subject to unexplained or irrational variation; returning at stated intervals; steadily pursued; orderlly; methodical; as, the regular succession of day and night; regular habits.

The returning of a thing purchased to the seller, on the ground of defect or frand.

Coming back; returning. [R.] "Like the remeant sun." C. Kingsley.

Returning, or capable of returning, sound; fitted to resound; resounding; echoing back. Through every hour of the golden morning, the streets were resonant with female parties of young and old. De Quincey.

The act of returning to, or recovering, a former state; as, the restitution of an elastic body.

The act of retaliating, or of returning like for like; retribution; now, specifically, the return of evil for evil; e.g., an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. God . . . takes what is done to others as done to himself, and by promise obloges himself to full retaliation. Calamy.

Act of retorting or throwing back; reflection or turning back. [Written also retorsion.] It was, however, necessary to possess some single term expressive of this intellectual retortion. Sir W. Hamilton.

A turning or bending backward; also, the state of being turned or bent backward; displacement backwards; as, retroversion of the uterus.

The act of returning (intransitive), or coming back to the same place or condition; as, the return of one long absent; the return of health; the return of the seasons, or of an anniversary. At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 1 Kings xx. 22. His personal return was most required and n…

The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil. Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is even with his enemy; but in passing it over he is superior. Bacon.

The act of returning, or coming back; return. [Obs.] After his reversion home, [he] was spoiled, also, of all that he brought with him. Foxe.