reform English · revision 4654

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1340|origins=la reformare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /rɪˈfɔːm/, US /rɪˈfɔːrm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|reformen]], [[bor|fro|reformer|t=to rebuild, reconstruct]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and directly from [[la|refōrmāre|t=to form again, change, transform]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from re- “again, back” and fōrmāre “to form”, from fōrma “form”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) The noun is from the verb, partly also from French réforme.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[form]] and [[reformation]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To renew or restore, as peace, and to bring a thing or person back to its original form: about 1340 in the OED,^(OED 1989) 1340 in Barnhart, in the Ayenbite of Inwyt.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “to change for the better, correct, improve” and of a person, to bring away from an evil life, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and of governments and institutions from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) The noun, the removal of an abuse or improvement of something faulty, is from 1663, in Butler's Hudibras;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) it took over from the older ''reformation'', which had acquired a special religious sense.^(Etymonline) A particular change for the better is from 1781,^(OED 1989) and political ''reform'' movements and bills are from the 1830s.^(OED 1989) ''Reformed'' churches (1580s) were mostly Calvinist,^(Etymonline) and ''Reform Judaism'' is from 1843.^(Etymonline) ''Reform school'' is from 1859.^(Etymonline) To form again is now usually written re-form.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1340 – to restore, renew.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – to improve; to amend a person.^(Etymonline)

+ * early 15th century – of governments and institutions.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1663 – noun, improvement, removal of an abuse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1781 – a particular improvement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – Reform Judaism.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1859 – ''reform school''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make changes in a system or institution so as to improve it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give up or make someone give up bad behaviour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To put an end to an abuse or wrong.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A change that improves something, especially in a law or [[system]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Improvement of a person's conduct.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''Reform'' Of the liberal branch of [[Judaism]] that adapts traditional practice to modern life.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reformability]]

+ * [[reformable]]

+ * [[reformer]]

+ * [[reformative]]

+ * [[reformatively]]

+ * [[reformativeness]]

+ * [[reformingly]]

+ * [[antireform]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reformation]]

+ * [[form]]

+ * [[reformatory]]

+ * [[re-form]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}