Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Reverse \Re*verse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Reversed};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.

            And that old dame said many an idle verse, Out of
            her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
                                                  --Spenser.

   2. To cause to return; to recall. [Obs.]

            And to his fresh remembrance did reverse The ugly
            view of his deformed crimes.          --Spenser.

   3. To change totally; to alter to the opposite.

            Reverse the doom of death.            --Shak.

            She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of
            Bray.                                 --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.

   4. To turn upside down; to invert.

            A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if
            balanced by admirable skill.          --Sir W.
                                                  Temple.

   5. Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.

            These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
                                                  --Pope.

            Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good
            and evil.                             --Rogers.

   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.

   {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[deg], and is held as in the illustration.

   {To reverse an engine} or {a machine}, to cause it to perform
      its revolutions or action in the opposite direction.

   Syn: To overturn; overset; invert; overthrow; subvert;
        repeal; annul; revoke; undo.

Reversing \Re*vers"ing\, a.
   Serving to effect reversal, as of motion; capable of being
   reversed.

   {Reversing engine}, a steam engine having a reversing gear by
      means of which it can be made to run in either direction
      at will.

   {Reversing gear} (Mach.), gear for reversing the direction of
      rotation at will.