▪ I. reproach, n.
(rɪˈprəʊtʃ)
Also 5–8 reproch(e.
[a. F. reproche (12th c.), vbl. n. f. reprocher (see next), = Prov. repropche, Sp. and Pg. reproche, It. rimproccio. The OF. variants reproce and repruce were also adopted in ME. (see these forms).]
1. A source or cause of disgrace or shame (to a person, etc.); a fact, matter, feature or quality bringing disgrace or discredit upon one.
| c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 71 Thys traytour Eolus..dayly me manaces..Whyche to my name a reproche syngler Shuld be for euer. 1494 Fabyan Chron. i. xvii. 16 Some..sayd, that to hym it was great reproche and dishonoure,..that he had nat the rule of al y⊇ lande. a 1548 Hall Chron. Hen. VI 169 It was not honorable, but a reproche and infamy to the Kyng, to have one to bee a Protector and governor of hym. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 240 They thinking it a reproch that we should ride ouer their graues, did with inraged countenances fling stones at vs. 1671 Milton Samson 353, I pray'd for Children, and thought barrenness In wedlock a reproach. 1785 Reid Intell. Powers ii. xx. 278 It is no wonder that..others..spurn at a knowledge they cannot account for, and vainly attempt to throw it off, as a reproach to their understanding. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) I. 135 Can it be an excessive reproach that the citizens fled from their dwellings. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. I. i. ix. 116 The conduct of Indian affairs..has always been a reproach to the United States. |
b. A thing, animal, or person forming a source of disgrace or discredit.
| 1712 Blackmore Creation (ed. 2) 139 The noxious Plant, and savage Animal, Which you the Earth's reproach and blemish call. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 136 ¶11 Wretches, whom all but their dependents numbered among the reproaches of the species. |
2. Shame, disgrace, opprobrium, or blame, incurred by or falling upon a person or thing. † in reproach, blamed, censured.
| 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop iii. ix, The woman whiche lyueth in this world without reproche or blame is worthely to be gretely preysed. 1490 ― Eneydos xi. 42 God forbede that it may be sayd of Eneas..to haue reproche by ony of our sayd wordes. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. clxii. 200 Many good knyghtes and squyers..hadde rather a dyed, than to haue had any reproche. 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offices i. (1540) 28 Of the hye pride of herte which is in reproche, and maye be called mad hardynesse. 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 222 Shame light on him, that..that, which is the noblest mysterie, Brings to reproach and common infamie! 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. ii. §3 There is no reproach to the scandal of a Story; it is such an authentick kind of falshood. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 154 ¶9 We may with as little reproach borrow science as manufactures from our ancestors. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xii. III. 232 He tried gentler means than those which had brought so much reproach on his predecessor. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 490 These are the sort of practices..which cast a reproach upon the succour of adversity. |
b. With poss. pron. (One's) shame or disgrace.
| 1513 More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 768 All the worlde shall to our honour and her reproche, perceyue [etc.]. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 20 If you..pul off the visard that Poets maske in, you shall disclose their reproch. 1611 Bible Gen. xxx. 23 And shee..bare a sonne, and said; God hath taken away my reproch. 1671 Milton P.R. iii. 66 As thou to thy reproach mayst well remember. |
† c. to a reproach, to a disgraceful extent. Obs.—1
| a 1715 Burnet Own Time ii. (1724) I. 158 They were ignorant to a reproach: And many of them were openly vitious. |
3. Blame or censure directed against a person, sometimes implying abusive or opprobrious language, but also (esp. in mod. use) applied to mild upbraiding or rebuke. term etc. of reproach, one expressing strong censure or condemnation.
| c 1477 Caxton Jason 21 If he..cometh to suche felicite and gothe to chaunge certes he is worthy of reproche. 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 74 That na lovingis ma do incres thi fame, Nor na reproche diminew thi guid name. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 197 They..drove awaye with reproche the kinges officers. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. iv. 5 Ever as she went her toung did walke In fowle reproch, and termes of vile despight. 1666 Pepys Diary 27 Nov., I was sorry to see this way of reproach taken against us. 1712–14 Pope Rape Lock v. 3 In vain Thalestris with reproach assails. 1791 Cowper Iliad iii. 72 Such is thy dauntless spirit, whose reproach Perforce I own, nor causeless nor unjust. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vi. II. 1 The name of Whig was never used except as a term of reproach. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 6 The look of reproach deepens in Viola's eyes. |
† b. in reproach of, in scorn of. Obs. rare—1.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vi. clxii. 155 All was doon in reproche of Ethelburga, whiche slewe hir lorde Brigthricus. |
4. † a. An insult in act or deed. Obs. rare.
| 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 374 For the Cristen hoost shuld be assuryd from the sodayne and vnware assautes and reprochis of the infidelles, therfore he closyd theym within a strength of dyche and pale. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Contumelia, To do one many injuries and reproches. 1600 Sir W. Cornwallis Ess., Prayse Rich. III (1617) D iij, The reproch offered his body. |
b. An expression of disapproval, censure, reproof, or upbraiding; † a verbal insult, an opprobrious expression or epithet.
| 1548 Elyot, Contumelia,..a reproche, a rebuke, a checke, a taunte. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 33 b, Stoutly contemnyng al the reproches of the adversaries. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 492 Calling him make-bate and seditious villaine, with other opprobrious reproches. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶14 Fearing no reproche for slownesse, nor coueting praise for expedition. 1671 Milton Samson 393 Thrice she assay'd with..amorous reproaches to win from me My capital secret. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. ix. 315 The justice of the reproaches..drove Anteus into despair. 1788 Gibbon Decl. & F. xlviii. V. 27 She neither heard nor regarded the reproaches of mankind. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. i. 98 Have I not the power to fly My own reproaches? 1834 James J. Marston Hall viii, Every time he opened his mouth his words were drowned in murmurs and reproaches. |
c. pl. A series of antiphons and responses, in which Christ is represented as reproaching his people, sung in Roman Catholic (and sometimes in Anglican) churches on Good Friday.
| 1884 Catholic Dict. 405/1 These ‘reproaches’ are addressed in dramatic form by Christ to the Jewish people. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 15 Apr. 6/3 Early services..consisting sometimes of the Litany or Morning Prayer,..and occasionally the singing of the Reproaches. 1900 Daily News 14 Apr. 8/4 No words were used during the service, beyond those given in the Book of Common Prayer and the Reproaches. |
† 5. An object of scorn or contempt. Obs.
| 1560 Bible (Genev.) Neh. ii. 17 Let vs buylde the wall of Ierusalem, that we be no more a reproche. ― Ps. lxxix. 4 We are a reproche to our neighbours. |
▪ II. reproach, v.
(rɪˈprəʊtʃ)
Also 5–7 reproch(e.
[ad. F. reprocher (OF. also reprochier) = Prov. repropchar, Sp. and Pg. reprochar, It. rimprocciare, referred by Diez to a Rom. *repropiāre, f. L. prope near (the phonology of the stem being as in F. approcher: see approach v.), but by Caix to a *reprobicāre from reprobus or reprobāre. The similarity of the senses to those of F. reprouver, to reprove, is somewhat in favour of the latter suggestion. Earlier forms of the verb in English are reproce and repruce.]
1. a. trans. To object or cast up (a thing) to, or bring (up) against, a person as a reproach or fault. Also const. on. Now rare.
| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vi. 141 It shall not be reproched to me that ye fyghte me a fote & I on horsbacke. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 561 He failed not to reproach unto the Pope his assisting of Francis. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 18 Ah, Madam (said I) reproach me not the crime you yourself made me commit. 1668 Dryden Dram. Poesy Ess. (ed. Ker) I. 61 The French writers..do not burden themselves too much with plot, which has been reproached to them..as a fault. 1830 W. Taylor Hist. Surv. Germ. Poetry II. 60 Lichtenberg..reproached to the rude polemic his ingratitude. 1845 E. B. Barrett Lett. R. Browning & E. B. B. I. 69 Jealousy of contemporaries, which we hear reproached..on men of letters. 1870 Daily News 25 Oct., The mere fact of their frequenting cafés should not be reproached against them. |
† b. To recall with reproaches. Obs. rare—1.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xii. (S.T.S.) I. 173 Þe pepill..ran with grete cumpanyis to seruilius Consull, Ilkane reprocheand þe promisses maid be him. |
2. a. To upbraid, reprove, or rebuke (a person); † to revile, abuse. Const. for († of) something.
| 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 504 Gif I haue failȝeit, baldly repruif my ryme, Bot..Reproche me nocht quhill the work be oursene. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xxv. (S.T.S.) I. 233 He began to reproche þame of þare fleing. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 31 That I should be occasioned thus to reproch you as I do, is..vnto me no great contentment. 1611 Bible Job xxvii. 6 My heart shall not reproach me so long as I liue. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 10 Our Musketteers..reproach'd him for having communicated too much to us. 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian vi, She gently reproached him for doubting the continuance of her regard. 1815 Shelley Lett. Pr. Wks. 1880 III. 347 Your letter has lain by me for last week, reproaching me every day. 1877 Froude Short Stud. (1883) IV. i. x. 124 He reproached Fitzurse for ingratitude for past kindness. |
| absol. 1611 Bible Ps. xliv. 16 For the voice of him that reproacheth, and blasphemeth. Ibid. lxxiv. 10 O God, how long shall the aduersarie reproach? 1961 B. Fergusson Watery Maze xv. 364 Like the good soldier he was, he never reproached or repined. |
| refl. 1727 De Foe Syst. Magic i. iv. (1840) 99 How would they have reproached themselves. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 100 As she sat reproaching herself, she beheld the Wezeer standing at her hand. 1870 Dickens E. Drood iv, I will not say that I have reproached myself. |
b. To upbraid (one) with something.
| 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 45, I would reproach them with what had past. 1772 Junius Lett. xxiii. (1788) 133 note, The Duke..reproached him in plain terms with his duplicity. 1838 Lytton Alice i. xiii, Lady Vargrave's heart reproached her with not having..loved this sweet girl as she deserved. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiii. (1899) II. 10 He was reproached with this misfortune as if it had been a crime. |
| refl. 1855 Ld. Houghton in Life (1891) I. xi. 527 It is one of those inconsideratenesses with which I am continually reproaching myself. |
c. To censure or reprove (a thing, act, etc.).
| 1660 Heylin Hist. Quinquart. (title-p.), The five Controverted Points, Reproached in these last times by the Name of Arminianism. 1697 Dryden æneid x. 974 Mezentius with his ardour warm'd His fainting friends, reproach'd their shameful flight. 1748 Johnson Van. Human Wishes 120 His last sighs reproach the faith of Kings. 1813 Shelley Q. Mab vi. 93 Their everlasting and unchanging laws Reproached thine ignorance. |
† 3. To reject, reprobate. Obs. rare—1.
| 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offices ii. (1540) 75 What..may lette me to folowe those thynges whiche be laudable semynge to me, and to reproche such as be contrarye? |
4. To bring (a thing) into reproach or discredit; to be a reproach to (a person).
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. 46 Riches as they haue renowned, so they haue reproched London. 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. v. vi. 426 Imputation, For that he knew you, might reproach your life, And choake your good to come. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 152 Successful competition in the show of cotton goods for many years reproached the British manufacturer. 1886 Daily Tel. 21 June (Cassell), The Inner Temple Hall, reproached with..Smirke's poverty-stricken perpendicular Gothic. |