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. 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 ]

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

2. To become or be reversed. [ 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 ]