Reverse (?), 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. & Zoöl.) 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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reversed (r&euptack_;v&etilde_;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°, 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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