reversive
|re-vers-ive|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈvɝsɪv/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈvɜːsɪv/
causing a reversal
Etymology
'reversive' originates from Latin, specifically the past participle 'reversus' of 'revertere', where 're-' meant 'back' and 'vertere' meant 'to turn'. The English adjective was formed by adding the suffix '-ive' to 'reverse'.
'reversive' developed from Latin 'revertere' → past participle 'reversus' → Old French/Medieval Latin influence on Middle English 'reverse' and later English formations; modern English formed 'reversive' by adding the adjectival suffix '-ive' to 'reverse'.
Initially related to the notion of 'having been turned back' or 'returned', over time it came to be used adjectivally to mean 'tending to cause a reversal' (i.e., 'causing turning back' rather than simply 'turned back').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an agent, device, or action that effects reversal or causes something to be reversed (rare usage).
The new mechanism functioned as a reversive, undoing the previous setting automatically.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
causing or tending to produce a reversal; characterized by reversal (turning back or undoing a prior condition).
The committee adopted a reversive policy that rolled back the previous regulations.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/22 21:49