reform
American Heritage Dictionary:
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re·form
(rĭ-fôrm') 
v., -formed, -form·ing, -forms. v.tr.
To change for the better.
n.
reformable re·form'a·ble adj.
reformer re·form'er n.
v., -formed, -form·ing, -forms. v.tr.
- To improve by alteration, correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition.
- To abolish abuse or malpractice in: reform the government.
- To put an end to (a wrong). See synonyms at correct.
- To cause (a person) to give up harmful or immoral practices; persuade to adopt a better way of life.
To change for the better.
n.
- A change for the better; an improvement.
- Correction of evils, abuses, or errors.
- Action to improve social or economic conditions without radical or revolutionary change.
- Relating to or favoring reform: a reform candidate for mayor.
- Reform Of or relating to Reform Judaism.
[Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin refōrmāre : re-, re- + fōrmāre, to shape (from fōrma, form).]
reformability re·form'a·bil'i·ty n.reformable re·form'a·ble adj.
reformer re·form'er n.
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reform
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The verb reform (with the stress on the second syllable) means 'to improve by removing faults'. Re-form (with hyphen) means 'to form again'.
| reflexive verbs, reflector, reflection | |
| refrigerator, refuse, refutable |
Roget's Thesaurus:
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reform
Barron's Law Dictionary:
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reform
To correct, modify, or rectify; synonymous with “ amend. ” 517 S.W. 2d 379, 382.
Devil's Dictionary:
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reform
A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce
v.
A thing that mostly satisfies reformers opposed to reformation.
Quotes About:
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Reform
Quotes:
"Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth's sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won."
- Louisa May Alcott
"Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest are willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathies with despised ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences."
- Susan B. Anthony
"You begin saving the world by saving one man at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics."
- Charles Bukowski
"Reform is not pleasant, but grievous; no person can reform themselves without suffering and hard work, how much less a nation."
- Thomas Carlyle
"To reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake; and all but foolish men know, that the only solid, though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself."
- Thomas Carlyle
"People who love soft methods and hate iniquity forget this, -- that reform consists in taking a bone from a dog. Philosophy will not do it."
- John Jay Chapman
See more famous quotes about Reform
Random House Word Menu:
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categories related to 'reformer'
- Politicians and Activists - reformer: one seeking to change and improve political institutions and government policies
- Respectful or Admiring Reference
See crossword solutions for the clue Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Reform
For other uses, see Reform (disambiguation).
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This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (April 2009) |
Reform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct.
Reform is generally distinguished from revolution. The latter means basic or radical change; whereas reform may be no more than fine tuning, or at most redressing serious wrongs without altering the fundamentals of the system. Reform seeks to improve the system as it stands, never to overthrow it wholesale. Radicals on the other hand, seek to improve the system, but try to overthrow whether it be the government or a group of people themselves.
Rotation in office or term limits would, by contrast, be more revolutionary, in altering basic political connections between incumbents and constituents.[1]
Developing countries may carry out a wide range of reforms to improve their living standards, often with support from international financial institutions and aid agencies. This can include reforms to macroeconomic policy, the civil service, and public financial management.
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Re-form
A note about grammar: when used to describe something which is physically formed again, such as re-casting it in a mold/mould, or a band that gets back together, the proper term is re-form (with a hyphen), not "reform".
See also
References
- ^ On term limits reform see, U.S. Term Limits. On more radical/revolutionary changes, including term limits, see, for example, Robert Struble, Jr., Treatise on Twelve Lights: To Restore America the Beautiful under God and the Written Constitution, 2007-08 edition.
External links
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Look up reform in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
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Translations:
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Reform
Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - reformere, forbedre, afskaffe
v. intr. - reformere, forbedre
n. - reform, forbedring, ændring
adj. - reform-, ændrings-, opdragelses-
idioms:
- reform school opdragelsesskole, opdragelseshjem
Nederlands (Dutch)
zich beteren, hervormen, juridisch document corrigeren, koolwaterstof omvormen d.m.v. katalyse, opnieuw vormen, hervorming, verbetering, betreffende Gereformeerde Kerk of Reform jodendom
Français (French)
v. tr. - réformer
v. intr. - se réformer
n. - réforme
adj. - réformateur
idioms:
- reform school (US) maison de redressement
Deutsch (German)
n. - Reform, Besserung
v. - (sich) bessern, reformieren
adj. - Reform-
idioms:
- reform school Fürsorgeerziehungsheim
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αναμόρφωση, μεταρρύθμιση, αποκατάσταση, ανασχηματισμός
v. - αναμορφώνω, μεταρρυθμίζω/-ομαι, αποκαθιστώ, διορθώνω/-ομαι, ανασχηματίζω/-ομαι
adj. - μεταρρυθμιστικός
idioms:
- reform school αναμορφωτήριο
Italiano (Italian)
emendarsi, riformare, riforma
idioms:
- reform school riformatorio
Português (Portuguese)
n. - reforma (f)
v. - reformar, corrigir
adj. - reformado
idioms:
- reform school reformatório
Русский (Russian)
исправиться, реформировать, реформа
idioms:
- reform school исправительное заведение для малолетних
Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - reformar, corregir, enmendar
v. intr. - reformarse, enmendarse, corregirse
n. - reforma
adj. - relativo o perteneciente a una reforma
idioms:
- reform school correccional (de menores), reformatorio
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - reform, förbättring, omdaning
v. - förbättra, omvända, avhjälpa, bättra sig
adj. - förbättrad
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
改革, 改良, 革新, 改造, 使悔改, 革除, 重组, 改过, 自新, 改善, 改革的, 拥护改革的
idioms:
- reform school 少年感化院
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 改革, 改良, 革新, 改造, 使悔改, 革除
v. intr. - 革新, 重組, 改過
n. - 改革, 改良, 改過, 自新, 改善
adj. - 改革的, 擁護改革的
idioms:
- reform school 少年感化院
한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 개혁하다, 재편성하다
v. intr. - 다시 형태로 이루다, 재편성되다
n. - 개정, 개혁, 구제
adj. - 개혁할 수 있는, 개심할 가망이 있는
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 改善, 改革
v. - 改善する, 改心させる
idioms:
- reform school 感化院
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) إعادة تشكيل, اصلاح (فعل) يصلح (صفه) ما يتعلق باليهود المصلحين أو اليهوديه المصلحه
עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - תיקן, החזיר למוטב, שיפר, שידד מערכות, יצר מחדש, גיבש מחדש, הסתדר או נערך מחדש
v. intr. - השתפר
n. - תיקון, תקנה, רפורמה, מוסד לנוער עברייני
adj. - של התנועה הרפורמית היהודית
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Law Dictionary. Copyright © 2003 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.
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