▪ I. reflow, n.
[re- 2 a.]
a. A reflux, refluence, ebb of the tide.
| 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 37 By the reflow or ebbe of the Ocean. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §197 This matter..would in time block up the Humber, was it not for the powerful re-flow of that river's tide. 1832 H. T. De la Beche Geol. Man. (ed. 2) 131 A quick flow or reflow of the water. 1860 Maury Phys. Geog. Sea §136 (Low) 47 The grand equatorial flow and reflow which is performed by the waters of all the great oceans. |
b. fig.
| 1969 Daily Tel. 4 Sept. 1/4 The re-flow of funds into London after the wave of speculation which followed devaluation was not as large as the initial outflow. 1975 Washington Post 19 Feb. a15/2 May I ask at that point if you have had an opportunity to examine the reflow in the purchase of goods and services. |
▪ II. reˈflow, v.1 Now rare.
[re- 2 a, orig. after L. refluĕre.]
intr. To flow back; esp. of the tide, to ebb. Freq. in phr. flow and reflow.
| 1387 [see reflowing vbl. n.]. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 57 The see Pontike reflowethe not as other sees. Ibid. 425 A lytelle welle in the costes of Ruthlande,..whiche dothe not floo and refloo in the maner of a see. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 373 Syne as the flude begouth for till reflow [etc.]. 1555 Eden Decades 119 They see the seas by increase and decrease to flowe and reflowe. 1589 Fleming Virg. Georg. iv. 71 At creekes reflowing past the which the water cannot go. 1776 Burrow Rep. IV. 2163 It is said that the king has a right, as high as the sea flows and reflows. 1810 Crabbe Borough i. 216 The billows..strike with furious force, And then re-flowing, take their grating course. 1852 Humber Conserv. Act 2038 So far as the tide flows or reflows. |
b. fig. and in fig. context.
| 1609 J. Davies Holy Roode Ded., Those [pleasures] will runne to Helles impure, While these to Eden faire reflow againe. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles iv. 15 As al Creatures flow and reflow to God, as the Ocean or plenitude of al Being. 1721 R. Keith tr. T. à Kempis, Solil. Soul xii. 197 My Affection floweth and refloweth here and there and every where. 1818 Byron Ch. Har. iv. xcii, An universal deluge, which..ebbs but to reflow! |
▪ III. reˈflow, v.2 rare.
[re- 5 a.]
To flow again.
| 1817 Byron Mazeppa xiv, Life reassumed its lingering hold.., My blood reflow'd, though thick and chill. a 1823 Crabbe Woman i, She..bids the spring of hope re-flow That languish'd in the fainting heart. |