n. The state or quality of being irreversible; irreversibleness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Incapable of being reversed or turned about or back; incapable of being made to run backward; as, an irreversible engine; an irreversible process; an irreversible reaction. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. Incapable of being reversed, recalled, repealed, or annulled; as, an irreversible sentence or decree. [ 1913 Webster ]

This rejection of the Jews, as it is not universal, so neither is it final and irreversible. Jortin.

Syn. -- Irrevocable; irrepealable; unchangeable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being irreversible. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Mach.) A steering gear, esp. for an automobile, not affected by the road wheels, as when they strike an obstacle side ways, but easily controlled by the hand wheel or steering lever. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In an irreversible manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Not reversible or capable of having either side out; -- used mostly of clothing. Opposite of reversible.
Syn. -- one-sided. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. sing & pl. [ F. See Reverse, n. ] (Dressmaking, Tailoring, etc.) A part turned or folded back so as to show the inside, or a piece put on in imitation of such a part, as the lapel of a coat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ See Reverse. ] Intended to reverse; implying reversal. [ Obs. ] Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Reverse. ] 1. The act of reversing; the causing to move or face in an opposite direction, or to stand or lie in an inverted position; as, the reversal of a rotating wheel; the reversal of objects by a convex lens. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A change or overthrowing; as, the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false; the reversal of an attainder, or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. revers, OF. revers, L. reversus, p. p. of revertere. See Revert. ] 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 ]

n. [ Cf. F. revers. See Reverse, a. ] 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 ]

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

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

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reversed p. pr. & vb. n. Reversing. ] [ See Reverse, a., and cf. Revert. ] 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°, 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 ]

a. 1. Turned side for side, or end for end; changed to the contrary; specifically (Bot. & Zool.), sinistrorse or sinistral; as, a reversed, or sinistral, spiral or shell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Annulled and the contrary substituted; as, a reversed judgment or decree. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reversed positive or
Reversed negative (Photog.), a picture corresponding with the original in light and shade, but reversed as to right and left. Abney. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a reversed way. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Irreversible. [ R. ] A. Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a reverse manner; on the other hand; on the opposite. Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who reverses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being reversible. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. réversible revertible, reversionary. ] 1. Capable of being reversed; as, a chair or seat having a reversible back; a reversible judgment or sentence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, having a pattern or finished surface on both sides, so that either may be used; -- said of fabrics. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reversible lock, a lock that may be applied to a door opening in either direction, or hinged to either jamb. --
Reversible process. See under Process. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a reversible manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serving to effect reversal, as of motion; capable of being reversed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reversing engine, a steam engine having a reversing gear by means of which it can be made to run in either direction at will. --
Reversing gear (Mach.), gear for reversing the direction of rotation at will. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. réversion, L. reversio a turning back. See Revert. ] 1. The act of returning, or coming back; return. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

After his reversion home, [ he ] was spoiled, also, of all that he brought with him. Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which reverts or returns; residue. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The small reversion of this great navy which came home might be looked upon by religious eyes as relics. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The returning of an estate to the grantor or his heirs, by operation of law, after the grant has terminated; hence, the residue of an estate left in the proprietor or owner thereof, to take effect in possession, by operation of law, after the termination of a limited or less estate carved out of it and conveyed by him. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, a right to future possession or enjoyment; succession. [ 1913 Webster ]

For even reversions are all begged before. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Annuities) A payment which is not to be received, or a benefit which does not begin, until the happening of some event, as the death of a living person. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Biol.) A return towards some ancestral type or character; atavism. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reversion of series (Alg.), the act of reverting a series. See To revert a series, under Revert, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) That which is to be received in reversion. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Law) Of or pertaining to a reversion; involving a reversion; to be enjoyed in succession, or after the termination of a particular estate; as, a reversionary interest or right. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) One who has a reversion, or who is entitled to lands or tenements, after a particular estate granted is terminated. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] A certain game at cards. [ 1913 Webster ]