reverse
    adj 1: directed or moving toward the rear; "a rearward glance";
           "a rearward movement" [syn: rearward, reverse]
    2: of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor
       vehicle; "in reverse gear" [ant: forward]
    3: reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect [syn:
       inverse, reverse]
    n 1: a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older
         than Bill but just the reverse was true" [syn: reverse,
         contrary, opposite]
    2: the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed
       [syn: reverse, reverse gear]
    3: an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something
       that is thwarting or frustrating [syn: reverse, reversal,
       setback, blow, black eye]
    4: the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal
       design [syn: reverse, verso] [ant: obverse]
    5: (American football) a running play in which a back running in
       one direction hands the ball to a back running in the
       opposite direction
    6: turning in the opposite direction [syn: reversion,
       reverse, reversal, turnabout, turnaround]
    v 1: change to the contrary; "The trend was reversed"; "the
         tides turned against him"; "public opinion turned when it
         was revealed that the president had an affair with a White
         House intern" [syn: change by reversal, turn,
         reverse]
    2: turn inside out or upside down [syn: turn back, invert,
       reverse]
    3: rule against; "The Republicans were overruled when the House
       voted on the bill" [syn: overrule, overturn, override,
       overthrow, reverse]
    4: cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking"; "lift an
       embargo"; "vacate a death sentence" [syn: revoke, annul,
       lift, countermand, reverse, repeal, overturn,
       rescind, vacate]
    5: reverse the position, order, relation, or condition of; "when
       forming a question, invert the subject and the verb" [syn:
       invert, reverse]

Reverse \Re*verse"\ (r[-e]*v[~e]rs"), 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.
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            He did so with the reverse of the lance. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   2. That which is directly opposite or contrary to something
      else; a contrary; an opposite. --Chaucer.
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            And then mistook reverse of wrong for right. --Pope.
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            To make everything the reverse of what they have
            seen, is quite as easy as to destroy. --Burke.
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   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.
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            The strange reverse of fate you see;
            I pitied you, now you may pity me.    --Dryden.
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            By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.
                                                  --Lamb.
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   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.
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   5. A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand;
      a backhanded stroke. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   6. (Surg.) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the
      direction of the bandage is changed.
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Reverse \Re*verse"\, 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.
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   2. Turned upside down; greatly disturbed. [Obs.]
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            He found the sea diverse
            With many a windy storm reverse.      --Gower.
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   3. (Bot. & Zool.) Reversed; as, a reverse shell.
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   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.
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Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reversed
   (r[-e]*v[~e]rst");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.
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            And that old dame said many an idle verse,
            Out of her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
                                                  --Spenser.
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   2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]
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            And to his fresh remembrance did reverse
            The ugly view of his deformed crimes. --Spenser.
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   3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
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            Reverse the doom of death.            --Shak.
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            She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of
            Bray.                                 --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   4. To turn upside down; to invert.
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            A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if
            balanced by admirable skill.          --Sir W.
                                                  Temple.
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   5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
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            These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
                                                  --Pope.
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            Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good
            and evil.                             --Rogers.
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   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.
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   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[deg], 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.
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   Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert;
        repeal; annul; revoke; undo.
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Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. i.
   1. To return; to revert. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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   2. To become or be reversed.
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