reflexlyadv.
/ˈriːflɛksli/, /rᵻˈflɛksli/, U.S. /ˈriˌflɛksli/ 1. By way of reflection, indirectly; in a reflexive manner; = reflexively adv. 1. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adverb] > indirectly or as a secondary consequence
occasionallya1425
reflectively1618
reductively1624
reflexively1631
secondarily1637
consecutively1644
consequentially1652
reflexly1654
secondarly1771
reductionally1967
1654 W. Charleton Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana iii. iv. 186 He [sc. a painter] must represent the Directly illuminate half, with one Colour..and the Reflexly illuminate half, with another.
1661 A. Burgess Expository Comment 1st Chap. 2 Cor. xl. 175 Faith acteth directly by going directly to Christ; and then faith acts reflexly, by looking upon this, that I do rest on Christ.
1737 W. Pardon Dyche's New Gen. Eng. Dict. (ed. 2) Radius, a ray, beam or luminous strait line, which is either directly from the luminous body, or reflexly transmitted from the illuminated body back again to the luminous body, or sideways on some other object, [etc.].
1862 Times 6 May 8 Reflexly, the system does mischief, in fostering in the young boy-teacher petulance, pride, impatience of restraint, and other qualities.
1961 J. N. Findlay Values & Intentions 63 We saw before that we could use verbal expressions reflexly to express the particular conscious light implied by their use.
2. In the manner of a reflex action; (loosely) automatically, instinctively; = reflexively adv. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > action of nervous system > [adverb] > reflex action
reflectorially1868
reflexly1875
1875 H. C. Wood Treat. Therapeutics (1879) 255 Contraction of the pupil before dilatation..is probably caused reflexly by irritant action of the atropia.
1932 S. Zuckerman Social Life Monkeys & Apes ix. 146 It seems reasonable to surmise that when the sexual skin is swollen with oedema, its sensory nerve endings are stimulated by pressure and that this reflexly rouses the animal to sexual behaviour.
1949 H. Bailey Demonstr. Physical Signs Clin. Surg. (ed. 11) xxxiii. 391 If the patient has been nursed with a pillow placed beneath the knees, the well-trained clinician's thoughts should reflexly turn to the veins of the lower extremities.
1961 Lancet 12 Aug. 367/2 I thought of..Superdiagnostex, lying in the cupboard where I hurled it reflexly when a salesman left it on trial last month.
1993 ‘J. Gash’ Paid & Loving Eyes (1994) viii. 60 Here I was reflexly coming back for more.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adv.1654