words are here used interchangeably. The ebbing and flowing of the tide is a case where the action is
reciprocal, but not mutual.
Reciprocal
(Re*cip"ro*cal), n.
1. That which is reciprocal to another thing.
Corruption is a reciprocal to generation.
Bacon. 2. (Arith. & Alg.) The quotient arising from dividing unity by any quantity; thus, ¼ is the reciprocal of 4;
1/(a +b) is the reciprocal of a + b. The reciprocal of a fraction is the fraction inverted, or the denominator
divided by the numerator.
Reciprocality
(Re*cip`ro*cal"i*ty) n. The quality or condition of being reciprocal; reciprocalness. [R.]
Reciprocally
(Re*cip"ro*cal*ly) adv.
1. In a reciprocal manner; so that each affects the other, and is equally affected by it; interchangeably; mutually.
These two particles do reciprocally affect each other with the same force.
Bentley. 2. (Math.) In the manner of reciprocals.
Reciprocally proportional (Arith. & Alg.), proportional, as two variable quantities, so that the one
shall have a constant ratio to the reciprocal of the other.
Reciprocalness
(Re*cip"ro*cal*ness) n. The quality or condition of being reciprocal; mutual return; alternateness.
