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reformative

 - 4 dictionary results

re⋅form

  [ri-fawrm]
Use reformative in a Sentence
–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 reformative
re·for·ma·tive   (rĭ-fôr'mə-tĭv)   
adj.  Serving to induce reform.
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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Word Origin & History

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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Legal Dictionary

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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