self-reactive
|self-re-ac-tive|
/ˌsɛlfrɪˈæktɪv/
reacting to itself
Etymology
'self-reactive' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'self' and 'reactive', where 'self' meant 'one's own' (Old English 'self') and 'reactive' comes from Latin roots meaning 'responding' (from re- 'again' + agere 'to do').
'reactive' derives from Latin 'reactivus' / 'reactio' (via French and Late Latin forms) formed from 're-' + 'agere' and entered English as 'react'/'reaction' in Middle English; 'self-' is an Old English element 'self', and the modern compound 'self-reactive' arose in technical/medical usage in the 20th century by combining these elements.
Initially, components meant 'one's own' (self) and 'to act/respond again' (react); over time, the compound came to mean specifically 'able to react against itself' (especially in immunology) and, by extension, 'responsive to its own output' in figurative contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
in immunology: describing a cell or molecule (e.g., a T cell or antibody) that reacts against the organism's own tissues or antigens; autoreactive.
Self-reactive T cells are normally eliminated during development to prevent autoimmune disease.
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Adjective 2
figurative/general: tending to respond to or be triggered by one's own actions, outputs, or internal processes (i.e., a process that amplifies or reacts to itself).
In certain control systems, a self-reactive feedback loop can amplify small fluctuations into large oscillations.
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Last updated: 2026/01/14 23:57