Wordiyoflect
LatinVariants
flectflexflection
Related Roots
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About This Root
From Latin flectere (to bend, turn, curve). The present-stem form of the root, paired with flex- as the past-participle form. Produces deflect (bend away), reflect (bend back), and genuflect (bend the knee). The physical bending metaphor extends to light (reflection) and thought (reflection as mental bending-back on an idea).
Associated Words
deflect
To cause something to change direction or turn aside
IELTSTOEFLGRE
deflection
A change in direction; avoidance of addressing something
C1
genuflect
To bend one knee in reverence or worship; to act servilely
GREC2
reflect
to bounce back light; to think deeply; to show or represent
NGSL 1kGREA2
reflectance
The ratio of reflected light or radiation to incident light on a surface
IELTSA2
reflection
An image reflected from a surface; careful thought or consideration
NGSL 3kTOEFLB1