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reform - 8 dictionary results

re-form

  [ree-fawrm]
Use reform in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
to form again.
Origin:
1300–50; ME; orig. identical with reform

Related forms:
re-for⋅ma⋅tion, noun
re-former, noun

re⋅form

  [ri-fawrm]
–noun
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.
–verb (used with object)
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.
–verb (used without object)
8. to abandon evil conduct or error: The drunkard promised to reform.
–adjective
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To reform
re·form   (rĭ-fôrm')   
v.   re·formed, re·form·ing, re·forms

v.   tr.
  1. To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition.
    1. To abolish abuse or malpractice in: reform the government.
    2. To put an end to (a wrong). See Synonyms at correct.
  3. To cause (a person) to give up harmful or immoral practices; persuade to adopt a better way of life.
v.   intr.
To change for the better.
n.  
  1. A change for the better; an improvement.
  2. Correction of evils, abuses, or errors.
  3. Action to improve social or economic conditions without radical or revolutionary change.
adj.  
  1. Relating to or favoring reform: a reform candidate for mayor.
  2. Reform Of or relating to Reform Judaism.

[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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

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.

Reform

Re*form"\, n. [F. r['e]forme.] Amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved; reformation; as, reform of elections; reform of government.

Civil service reform. See under Civil.

Reform acts (Eng. Politics), acts of Parliament passed in 1832, 1867, 1884, 1885, extending and equalizing popular representation in Parliament.

Reform school, a school established by a state or city government, for the confinement, instruction, and reformation of juvenile offenders, and of young persons of idle, vicious, and vagrant habits. [U. S.]

Syn: Reformation; amendment; rectification; correction. See Reformation.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : reform
Spanish: reformar,
German: bessern,
Japanese: 改心させる
More Translations »

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
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Main Entry: re·form
Pronunciation: ri-'form
Function: transitive verb
1 : to put (a writing) into a corrected form that more accurately reflects the agreement of the parties reformed —W. M. McGovern, Junior et al.> —compare RATIFY
2 : to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways reformed drug dealer> intransitive verb : to become changed for the better
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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