reflect

Where does the word "reflect" come from? It comes from Latin reflectere, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Reflect’s story begins in Latin: reflectere meant “to bend back.” To bend back, from re- (back) and flectere (to bend). It reached English by 1300s as reflect. Settled as the English word for light bouncing back, or thinking deeply. Today, reflect means to throw back light or an image, or to think carefully about something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient reflectere "to bend back", to bend back, from re- (back) and flectere (to bend).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s reflect "to bounce back light, or to think deeply", settled as the English word for light bouncing back, or thinking deeply.