I. rə̇ˈfȯ(ə)rm, rēˈf-, -ȯ(ə)m verb
Etymology: Middle English reformen, from Middle French reformer, from Old French, from Latin reformare, from re- + formare to form, from forma form — more at form
transitive verb
1. obsolete : restore , renew
2.
a. : to restore to a former good state : bring from bad to good
hopes that Congress may, somehow, reform itself — T.H.Eliot
b. : to amend or improve by change of form or by removal of faults or abuses
the fact is that the world does not care to be reformed — S.M.Crothers
need for reforming news writing in order to make it more readable — F.L.Mott
c. : to put or change into a new and improved form or condition
his ambition to reform the map of the world — Benjamin Farrington
3. : to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action or behavior
reform the abuses of political patronage
4. : to induce or cause to abandon an evil manner of living and follow a good one : change from worse to better
attempts to reform the criminal
reform a drunkard
5. obsolete : censure , reprove
6. obsolete : to improve by cutting : prune
labor to reform yon flowery arbors — John Milton
7.
a. : to correct the errors in : emend
reform the calendar
b. : to rectify (as an error in a legal instrument) in accordance with the real intention of the parties to a transaction
8.
a. obsolete : to form (a military unit) into a new organization (as by reduction in number)
b. obsolete : disband
c. : re-form
9.
a. : to subject (hydrocarbon oils or gases) to reforming
b. : to produce by reforming
reformed gasoline
reformed refinery oil gas
intransitive verb
: to change for the better : amend or correct one's character or habits
if given more time, I think the Church would have reformed from within — A.N.Whitehead
Synonyms: see correct
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from French réforme, from réformer to reform, from Old French reformer
1.
a. : amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved
reform of the law courts
a school for reform of young criminals
b. : a removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or errors
calendar reform
reform of election procedures
2. usually capitalized : reformation 2
3. usually capitalized : reform judaism
III. adjective
: relating to or favoring reform
reform movement
reform bill
reform candidate