Reciprocal

rē-sip′rō-kal, adj. acting in return: mutual: alternating: interchangeable: giving and receiving.— n. that which is reciprocal: ( math. ) the quotient resulting from the division of unity by any given quantity.— n. Reciprocal′ity , the state or quality of being reciprocal: mutual return.— adv. Recip′rocally , mutually: interchangeably: inversely.— ns. Recip′rocalne ; Recip′rocant ( math. ), a contra variant expre ing a certain condition of tangency: a differential invariant.— adj. Recip′rocantive , relating to a reciprocant.— v.t. Recip′rocāte , to give and receive mutually: to requite: to interchange: to alternate.— v.i. to move backward and forward: ( coll. ) to make a return or response.— ns. Recip′rocating-en′gine , an engine in which the piston moves forward and backward in a straight line; Reciprocā′tion , interchange of acts: alternation.— adj. Recip′rocātive , acting reciprocally.— n. Reciproc′ity , mutual obligations: action and reaction: equality of commercial privileges.— adjs. Rec′iprock , Rec′iproque ( Bacon ), reciprocal; Recip′rocous ( rare ), turning back: reciprocal.— Reciprocal proportion is when, of four terms taken in order, the first has to the second the same ratio which the fourth has to the third; Reciprocal ratio , the ratio of the reciprocals of two quantities; Reciprocal terms , those that have the same signification and consequently are convertible; Reciprocating motion , by this the power is transmitted from one part of a machine to another. [L. rec i proc us. ]