flection, flexion (flekshon)

[F. flexion = Sp. flexion = Pg. flexão =1 It. fle ione, curve. Of a sinuous pipe that may have some four flexions trial would be made. Bacon , Nat. Hist. 3. A turn; a cast; a motion or glance. Pity causeth some tears, and a flexion or cast of the eye aside. Bacon , Nat. Hist. flection 4. In gram., the variation of the form of words, as by declension or conjugation. See inflec tion.-5. In an at., that motion of a joint which brings the connected parts continually nearer together: specifically said of the action of any flexor muscle: opposed to extension. [In this sense always flexion.] [ flec terminal variation of words; inflectional. The French inflections are much le complicated to the ear than to the eye; and if we strip the accidence of the flectional syllables or letters which in the spoken tongue are silent, the distinct variations in the forms of words are far fewer than they appear in the written language. G. P. Marsh, Lects. on Eng. Lang., 1st ser., xvi. Australian languages have been esteemed variations from one original tongue, or a cro ing of flexional and monosyllabic speech. J. Bonwick, Jour. Anthrop. Inst., XVI. 208. flectionle , flexionle (flek's hon-les), a. [ flection + -le .] Without flection or variation; without terminal change or modification.