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Literary notes about Reflexive (AI summary)

The word "reflexive" is frequently used to describe a self-referential action or construction in language, as seen when a subject acts upon itself—as in “the man sees himself” ([1], [2]). Discussions of reflexive forms extend beyond simple self-reference to include grammatical nuances such as deponents, passive substitutions, and reciprocal actions ([3], [4], [5]). In various languages—from Latin and Spanish to Esperanto and Greek—reflexive constructions, whether in verbs or possessive adjectives, are analyzed for their ability to reinforce the connection between a subject and its action, highlighting both their structural function and stylistic impact ([6], [7], [8]). Additionally, some texts delve into how these forms sometimes serve more abstractly, offering redundancy or emphasis within poetic and narrative contexts ([9], [10]).
  1. Compare Homō sē videt , the man sees himself (reflexive)
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  2. 3. Reflexive pronouns , used in the predicate to refer back to the subject; as, he saw himself .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  3. Reciprocal , action, deponents expressing, 1487 , see Reflexive ; pron., place taken by inter nōs .
    — from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane
  4. of, in reflexive sense, 1482 ; gerund of, in reflexive sense, 1482 ; deponents, 1487 ; with acc., 1148 . Reizianus versus , 2625 , 2626 .
    — from A Latin Grammar for Schools and Colleges by George Martin Lane
  5. ↑ 18 The only exception is in reflexive action, where the object is a compound personal pronoun (“Charles deceived himself ”).
    — from An Advanced English Grammar with Exercises by Frank Edgar Farley and George Lyman Kittredge
  6. c. Suus is a reflexive possessive, that is, it usually stands in the predicate and regularly refers back to the subject .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  7. Ipse must be carefully distinguished from the reflexive suī .
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  8. Reflexive possessive adjectives, like the reflexive pronoun, refer to the subject of the verb in the sentence.
    — from A Complete Grammar of Esperanto by Ivy Kellerman Reed
  9. The savant leaned against the bench, trying to still the reflexive trembling of his body.
    — from The Time Mirror by Clark South
  10. The reflexive is frequently used as a substitute for the passive.
    — from Novelas Cortas by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón

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