The Collaborative International 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.]
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To convince. [Obs.]
When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
--John xvi. 9. -
To disprove; to refute. [Obs.]
Reprove my allegation, if you can.
--Shak. -
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. -
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.
Wiktionary
vb. (en-past of: reprove)
WordNet
adj. punished especially by reproof or reprimand [syn: admonished, chastened, rebuked, reprimanded]
Usage examples of "reproved".
At this time there was a famous priest, called Mikadzuki Shonin, of the temple Denzuin, who, having been told of the affair, came one night to the house, and, when the ghost began to count the plates, reproved the spirit, and by his prayers and admonitions caused it to cease from troubling the living.
George Fox came to see James Nayler in prison at Exeter, and reproved him for his errors.
Damon reproved gently, thinking that it was bad enough for Dezi to know he chose him because Callista refused.
And because supper time approached nigh, when as he should be reproved of too much negligence, he tooke a halter to hang himselfe: but his wife perceiving whereabout he went, ran incontinently to him, and taking the halter in both her hands, stopped him of his purpose, saying, O husband, are you out of your writs?
For we see now a dayes many excellent Philosophers greatly desire to follow his sect, and by perpetual study to value and revolve his workes, but to the end I may not be reproved of indignation by any one that might say : What, shall we suffer an Asse to play the Philosopher?