Adjacent Words

Reprove definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

REPROVE, v.t. [L. reprobo; re and probo, to prove.]
1. To blame; to censure.
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices - Psalms 50.
2. To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend. Luke 3.
3. To blame for; with of; as, to reprove one of laziness.
4. To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest.
John 16.
5. To refute; to disprove. [Not in use.]
6. To excite a sense of guilt. The heart or conscience reproves us.
7. To manifest silent disapprobation or blame.
The vicious cannot bear the presence of the good, whose very looks reprove them, and whose life is a severe, though silent admonition.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: take to task; "He admonished the child for his bad behavior" [syn: admonish, reprove]

Merriam Webster's

verb (reproved; reproving) Etymology: Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-French reprover, from Late Latin reprobare to disapprove, condemn, from Latin re- + probare to test, approve — more at prove Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to scold or correct usually gently or with kindly intent 2. to express disapproval of ; censure <it is not for me to reprove popular taste — D. W. Brogan> 3. obsolete disprove, refute 4. obsolete convince, convict intransitive verb to express rebuke or reproof • reprover noun • reprovingly adverb Synonyms: reprove, rebuke, reprimand, admonish, reproach, chide mean to criticize adversely. reprove implies an often kindly intent to correct a fault <gently reproved my table manners>. rebuke suggests a sharp or stern reproof <the papal letter rebuked dissenting clerics>. reprimand implies a severe, formal, often public or official rebuke <reprimanded by the ethics committee>. admonish suggests earnest or friendly warning and counsel <admonished by my parents to control expenses>. reproach and chide suggest displeasure or disappointment expressed in mild reproof or scolding <reproached him for tardiness> <chided by their mother for untidiness>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. rebuke (a person, a person's conduct, etc.). Derivatives: reprovable adj. reprover n. reprovingly adv. Etymology: ME f. OF reprover f. LL reprobare disapprove: see REPROBATE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Reprove Re*prove" (r?-pr??v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reproved (-pr??vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Reproving.] [F. r['e]prouver, OF. reprover, fr. L. reprobare. See Reprieve, Reprobate, and cf. Reproof.] 1. To convince. [Obs.] When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. --John xvi. 9. 2. To disprove; to refute. [Obs.] Reprove my allegation, if you can. --Shak. 3. To chide to the face as blameworthy; to accuse as guilty; to censure. What if thy son Prove disobedient, and, reproved, retort, ``Wherefore didst thou beget me?'' --Milton. 4. To express disapprobation of; as, to reprove faults. He neither reproved the ordinance of John, neither plainly condemned the fastings of the other men. --Udall. Syn: To reprehend; chide; rebuke; scold; blame censure. Usage: Reprove, Rebuke, Reprimand. These words all signufy the expression of disapprobation. To reprove implies greater calmness and self-possession. To rebuke implies a more excited and personal feeling. A reproof may be administered long after the offience is committed, and is usually intended for the reformation of the offender; a rebuke is commonly given at the moment of the wrong, and is administered by way of punishment and condemnation. A reprimand proceeds from a person invested with authority, and is a formal and offiscial act. A child is reproved for his faults, and rebuked for his impudence. A military officer is reprimanded for neglect or violation of duty.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(reproves, reproving, reproved) If you reprove someone, you speak angrily or seriously to them because they have behaved in a wrong or foolish way. (FORMAL) 'There's no call for talk like that,' Mrs Evans reproved him... Women were reproved if they did not wear hats in court. = admonish VERB: V with quote, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Censure, lecture, blame, reprehend, condemn, reprimand, chide, rebuke, upbraid, admonish, find fault with, remonstrate with, expostulate with.

Moby Thesaurus

admonish, bring to book, call down, call to account, chasten, chastise, chide, correct, have words with, lecture, lesson, objurgate, rack, rate, rebuke, reprehend, reprimand, scold, set down, set straight, spank, straighten out, take down, take to task, upbraid