![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
re-form 
Audio Help [ree-fawrm] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [ree-fawrm] Pronunciation Key –verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
| to form again. |
—Related forms
re-for·ma·tion, noun
re-former, noun
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
reform
To learn more about reform visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
re·form
Audio Help [ri-fawrm] Pronunciation Key
—Related forms
Audio Help [ri-fawrm] Pronunciation Key –noun
–verb (used with object)
–verb (used without object)
–adjective
| 1. | the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform. |
| 2. | an instance of this. |
| 3. | the amendment of conduct, belief, etc. |
| 4. | to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc. |
| 5. | to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct. |
| 6. | to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.). |
| 7. | Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum. |
| 8. | to abandon evil conduct or error: The drunkard promised to reform. |
| 9. | (initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism: a Reform rabbi. |
[Origin: 1300–50; (v.) ME reformen < MF reformer, OF < L refōrmāre (see re-, form); (n.) partly deriv. of the v., partly < F réforme]
] —Related forms
re·form·a·ble, adjective
re·form·a·bil·i·ty, re·form·a·ble·ness, noun
re·form·a·tive, adjective
re·form·a·tive·ly, adverb
re·form·a·tive·ness, noun
re·form·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration. 4. better, rectify, correct, amend, emend, ameliorate, repair, restore.
—Antonyms 1. deterioration.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
| re·form
Audio Help (rĭ-fôrm') Pronunciation Key
v. re·formed, re·form·ing, re·forms v. tr.
v. intr. To change for the better. n.
adj.
[Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin refōrmāre : re-, re- + fōrmāre, to shape (from fōrma, form).] re·form'a·bil'i·ty n., re·form'a·ble adj., re·form'er n. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
reform (v.)
c.1300, "to convert into another and better form," from O.Fr. reformer (12c.), from L. reformare "to form again, change, alter," from re- "again" + formare "to form." The noun is 1663, from the verb. Meaning "to bring (a person) away from an evil course of life" is recorded from 1413; of governments, institutions, etc., from 1432. Reformed churches (1588) usually are Calvinist as opposed to Lutheran. Reformed Judaism (1843) is a movement initiated in Germany by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-86). Reformatory "house of correction for juveniles" first recorded 1834. Reform school is attested from 1859.
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| reform | |
noun | |
| 1. | a change for the better as a result of correcting abuses; "justice was for sale before the reform of the law courts" |
| 2. | a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices; "the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians" |
| 3. | self-improvement in behavior or morals by abandoning some vice; "the family rejoiced in the drunkard's reform" |
verb | |
| 1. | make changes for improvement in order to remove abuse and injustices; "reform a political system" |
| 2. | bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one; "The Church reformed me"; "reform your conduct" |
| 3. | produce by cracking; "reform gas" |
| 4. | break up the molecules of; "reform oil" |
| 5. | improve by alteration or correction of errors or defects and put into a better condition; "reform the health system in this country" |
| 6. | change for the better; "The lazy student promised to reform"; "the habitual cheater finally saw the light" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
reform1 [rəˈfoːm] verb
to improve or remove faults from
Example: The criminal's wife stated that she had made great efforts to reform her husband.
reform2 [rəˈfoːm] verbExample: The criminal's wife stated that she had made great efforts to reform her husband.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to give up bad habits, improve one's behaviour etc
Example: He admitted that he had been a criminal, but said that he intended to reform.
reform1 [rəˈfoːm] nounExample: He admitted that he had been a criminal, but said that he intended to reform.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
the act of improving
Example: the reform of our political system
reform2 [rəˈfoːm] nounExample: the reform of our political system
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
an improvement
Example: He intends to make several reforms in the prison system.
See also: reformed, reformerExample: He intends to make several reforms in the prison system.
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Main Entry: re·form
Pronunciation: ri-'form
Function: transitive verb
1 : to put (a writing) into a corrected form that more accurately reflectsthe agreement of the parties <allows a writing signed by mistake to be reformed —W. M. McGovern, Junior et al.> —compare RATIFY
2 : to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways <a reformed drug dealer>intransitive verb : to become changed for the better
| Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Reform, AL (city, FIPS 64104) Location: 33.37956 N, 88.01670 W
Population (1990): 2105 (878 housing units)
Area: 20.8 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 35481
| U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau |
Reform
A*mend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amended; p. pr. & vb. n. Amending.] [F. amender, L. emendare; e (ex) + mendum, menda, fault, akin to Skr. minda personal defect. Cf. Emend, Mend.] To change or modify in any way for the better; as, (a) by simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous, faulty, and the like; (b) by supplying deficiencies; (c) by substituting something else in the place of what is removed; to rectify. Mar not the thing that can not be amended. --Shak. An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or opening for amended thought. --De Quincey. We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a Norman. --Sir W. Scott. To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement. Syn: To Amend, Emend, Correct, Reform, Rectify. Usage: These words agree in the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct (literally, make straight) when we conform things to some standard or rule; as, to correct proof sheets. We amend by removing blemishes, faults, or errors, and thus rendering a thing more a nearly perfect; as, to amend our ways, to amend a text, the draft of a bill, etc. Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to editions of books, etc. To reform is literally to form over again, or put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake, to rectify abuses, inadvertencies, etc.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Reform
Re*form"\ (r?*f?rm"), v. t. [F. r['e]former, L. reformare; pref. re- re- + formare to form, from forma form. See Form.] To put into a new and improved form or condition; to restore to a former good state, or bring from bad to good; to change from worse to better; to amend; to correct; as, to reform a profligate man; to reform corrupt manners or morals. The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age; but that of a good one will not reform it. --Swift. Syn: To amend; correct; emend; rectify; mend; repair; better; improve; restore; reclaim.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Reform
Re*form"\, v. i. To return to a good state; to amend or correct one's own character or habits; as, a man of settled habits of vice will seldom reform.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
REFORM
REFORM: in Acronym Finder
| Acronym Finder, © 1988-2007 Mountain Data Systems |
View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web
Share This: 
Perform a new search, or try your search for "reform" at:
- Amazon.com - Shop for books, music and more
- Reference.com - Encyclopedia Search
- Reference.com - Web Search powered by Ask.com
- Thesaurus.com - Search for synonyms and antonyms
