/ rɪˈprəʊtʃ; NAmE -ˈproʊtʃ/ noun , verb
■ noun ( formal )
1.
[ U ] blame or criticism for sth you have done :
His voice was full of reproach.
The captain's behaviour is above / beyond reproach (= you cannot criticize it) .
2.
[ C ] a word or remark expressing blame or criticism :
He listened to his wife's bitter reproaches.
3.
[ U ] a state of shame or loss of honour :
Her actions brought reproach upon herself.
4.
[ sing. ] reproach (to sb/sth) a person or thing that brings shame on sb/sth
SYN discredit :
Such living conditions are a reproach to our society.
■ verb ( formal )
1.
reproach sb (for sth / for doing sth) | reproach sb (with sth / with doing sth) to blame or criticize sb for sth that they have done or not done, because you are disappointed in them :
[ vn ]
She was reproached by colleagues for leaking the story to the press.
[also v speech , vn speech ]
2.
[ vn ] reproach yourself (for sth / for doing sth) | reproach yourself (with sth) to feel guilty about sth that you think you should have done in a different way :
He reproached himself for not telling her the truth.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French reprochier (verb), from a base meaning bring back close, based on Latin prope near.