3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
Reverse the doom of death.
Shak.
She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray.
Sir W. Scott. 4. To turn upside down; to invert.
A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if balanced by admirable skill.
Sir W. Temple. 5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
Pope.
Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good and evil.
Rogers. 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.
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 a machine, to
cause it to perform its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.
Syn. — To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert; repeal; annul; revoke; undo.
Reverse
(Re*verse"), v. i.
1. To return; to revert. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To become or be reversed.
Reversed
(Re*versed") a.
1. Turned side for side, or end for end; changed to the contrary; specifically (Bot. & Zoöl.), sinistrorse or
sinistral; as, a reversed, or sinistral, spiral or shell.
2. (Law) Annulled and the contrary substituted; as, a reversed judgment or decree.
Reversed positive or negative (Photog.), a picture corresponding with the original in light and shade,
but reversed as to right and left. Abney.
Reversedly
(Re*vers"ed*ly) adv. In a reversed way.
Reverseless
(Re*verse"less), a. Irreversible. [R.] A. Seward.
Reversely
(Re*verse"ly), adv. In a reverse manner; on the other hand; on the opposite. Bp. Pearson.
Reverser
(Re*vers"er) n. One who reverses.
Reversibility
(Re*vers`i*bil"i*ty) n. The quality of being reversible. Tyndall.
Reversible
(Re*vers"i*ble) 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.
2. Hence, having a pattern or finished surface on both sides, so that either may be used; — said of fabrics.
