reverse

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.That which appears or is presented when anything, as a lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or turned contrary to its natural direction. [1913 Webster]

He did so with the reverse of the lance.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]

2.That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

And then mistook reverse of wrong for right.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

To make everything the reverse of what they have seen, is quite as easy as to destroy.— Burke.[1913 Webster]

3.The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse. [1913 Webster]

The strange reverse of fate you see; I pitied you, now you may pity me.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.— Lamb.[1913 Webster]

4.The back side; as, the reverse of a drum or trench; the reverse of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to the obverse. See Obverse. [1913 Webster]

5.A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6.(Surg.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed. [1913 Webster]

1.Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order or method. "A vice reverse unto this." --Gower. [1913 Webster]

2.Turned upside down; greatly disturbed. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

He found the sea diverse With many a windy storm reverse.— Gower.[1913 Webster]

3.(Bot. & Zool.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell. [1913 Webster]

Reverse bearing (Surv.), the bearing of a back station as observed from the station next in advance.

Reverse curve (Railways), a curve like the letter S, formed of two curves bending in opposite directions.

Reverse fire (Mil.), a fire in the rear.

Reverse operation (Math.), an operation the steps of which are taken in a contrary order to that in which the same or similar steps are taken in another operation considered as direct; an operation in which that is sought which in another operation is given, and that given which in the other is sought; as, finding the length of a pendulum from its time of vibration is the reverse operation to finding the time of vibration from the length. [1913 Webster]

1.To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart. [1913 Webster]

And that old dame said many an idle verse, Out of her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

2.To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly view of his deformed crimes.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

3.To change totally; to alter to the opposite. [1913 Webster]

Reverse the doom of death.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]

4.To turn upside down; to invert. [1913 Webster]

A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if balanced by admirable skill.— Sir W. Temple.[1913 Webster]

5.Hence, to overthrow; to subvert. [1913 Webster]

These can divide, and these reverse, the state.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good and evil.— Rogers.[1913 Webster]

6.(Law) To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree. [1913 Webster]

Reverse arms (Mil.), a position of a soldier in which the piece passes between the right elbow and the body at an angle of 45[deg], and is held as in the illustration.

To reverse an engine or To reverse a machine, to cause it to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite direction. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo. [1913 Webster]

1.To return; to revert. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

2.To become or be reversed. [1913 Webster]