reproof1
(rɪˈpruːf)
Forms: α. 4 reproef, 4–5 reprof, 4–6 reprofe, 5–6 reproffe, 5–7 reproofe, (6 -proufe), 5– reproof; 4–6 reproue, (4 -pruve, 5 -prowe), 5–6 reprove; also 5–6 Sc. repruf(e, -pruff, (5 -prwfe, -prwe), 6 repruif. β. 4–5 repref, (5 -preff, -preffe), 4–6 reprefe, -preef, (6 -fe), 5–6 Sc. repreif(e, 6 reprief(e, -prife, reypriff; 4–6 repreue, -preve, 6 repreeve, -prieve, -prive.
[a. OF. reprove, -prouve (AF. also repreove), vbl. n. f. reprover to reprove. On the variation in the forms see proof n.]
† 1. Shame, disgrace, ignominy or reproach, adhering or resulting to a person in consequence or by reason of some fact, event, conduct, etc. (Occas. with a and pl.) Obs.
| α 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2871 Methink thou wirkis, to thi reproue, Onence thi son that thou sold loue. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5555 Thurgh defaute of hym er þai In grete reprove. c 1400 Love Bonavent. Mirr. Life Xt. (B.N.C.) lf. 14 It is abhomynable þynge and a grete reproofe to a mayden..to be a grete iangelere. c 1500 Lancelot 1252 Madem, I wot that for to loue yone knycht,..It war to yow no maner of Reprwe. 1569 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 56 Under the pane of repruif, infamy, and perjurie. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 90 She did betray me to my owne reproofe. a 1631 Donne Serm. (1640) 360 If..thou return..to the Repursuite of those half-repented Sins..: This is a Reproofe. |
| β c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 404 Ne were it for repreue, By Mahoun, þat ys my vowee of þyn heued y wolde þee reue. c 1386 Chaucer Pard. T. 595 It is repreeue and contrarie of honour For to ben holde a commune hasardour. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas v. xxxii. (1554) 141 b, Bochas list not expresse More of his life fulfilled of all repreues. 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 435 That war repreif to thair diuinite, And na reproche vnto the said Enee. 1567 Lucres & Eur. H iv b, Yf I shoulde carye thee about wyth me,..what reprefe and shame shulde it be both to the and me? |
† b. One who, or that which, is a disgrace or discredit to something.
Obs. rare.
| c 1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 148 Thow Phellippe, foundour of new falsehede, Distroubar of pees,..reprof of alle knyghthode. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. i. i, Schaw now thy schame,..schaw thy endite reprufe of rethoryis. |
† 2. Insulting or opprobrious language or action used against a person; insult, contumely, scorn.
Obs.| α a 1340 Hampole Psalter xiv. 4 Reprofe that was sayd agayns men he accept it noght. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 336 More men wondren whi þei cursen..not for reprofe don to Crist and his majeste. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 97 (Ps. cxix. 22), Bere awey fro me reprof and despyt. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. x. 284 Lenox selfe thay cast doune to the Inglis schipis farr of with gret reprofe. |
| β c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 34 To þe repreef of Crist þei clepide him a Samaritan. c 1460 Play Sacram. 456 As he was on y⊇ rode that he was on don w{supt} grett repreue. c 1510 More Picus Wks. 15/2 God had accepted them as worthy to suffer wronge and repriefe for his sake. |
† b. With
a and
pl. An instance of this; an insult in word or deed.
Obs.| α a 1340 Hampole Psalter cxxii. 4 Oure saule trauayls in reprofis and oure body in passiouns. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) Pref. 1 He sufferd many reprufes and scornes by vs. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. cxcviii. 176 They cast vpon hym many snowe balles and many other reproues dyd him. |
| β c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 7996 Bytwyxt to þer a stryf þey herde, Of grete reprefs ilk oþer onswerde. 1382 Wyclif Ecclus. xxix. 9 And repreues and cursis he shal ȝelde to hym. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione ii. i. 40 Crist was..in his grettist nede among repreues forsaken of his frendes. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly B ij b, Euen these sage Stoikes dooe not in deede so greatly despise pleasure, as outwardly thei dissemble, and afore folks dooe baite hir with a thousand repreues. 1597 Guistard & Sismond B ij, As to the great repreeve also contrived, which alder first ayen me ye object. |
† c. An object of scorn or
contempt. Obs.| a 1340 Hampole Psalter xxi. 5, I am a worm and noght man, reproue of men & outkastynge of folke. 1382 Wyclif Judith vii. 16 Betere it is..than wee die, and be repref to alle flesh. 1535 Coverdale Ps. xxx. 11, I am become a very reprofe amonge all myne enemies. |
3. Censure, rebuke, reprimand, reprehension.
| α c 1350 Will. Palerne 652 Alisandrine..bi-þouȝt hire ful busily howe best were to werche,..properly vnparceyued for reproue after. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 189 Reprowe was founde for amendement of hym that Is reprowid. 1538 Starkey England i. iv. 139 They may abase themselfe in al vayn lustys & vanyte, wythout punyschement or reproue of any degre. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 662 In reproofe of Jasper Erle of Penbroke, he created William Lord Herbert Erle of the same place. 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. ii. 37 A Mallice, that..would plucke reproofe and rebuke from euery Eare that heard it. 1611 Bible Prov. xv. 5 A foole despiseth his fathers instruction: but hee that regardeth reproofe, is prudent. 1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 583 Those best can bear reproof, who merit praise. 1848 Dickens Dombey ii, Mrs. Chick contented herself with a glance of reproof. |
| β 1382 Wyclif Matt. xi. 20 Thanne Jhesus began for to seie repreue to citees. c 1400 Rom. Rose 7240 Men..holden us for so worthy, That we may folk repreve echoon, And we nyl have repref of noon. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. IV 7 He..suffered them to robbe and pill without correction or reprefe. 1600 Fairfax Tasso xvi. xlv, I thee enchanted and allur'd to loue, Wicked deceit, craft worthie sharpe repriefe. |
| Comb. 1382 Wyclif 1 Esdr. Prol., The studies of enuyouse men..that alle thing that we wryten, weenen repref wrthi. |
b. With
a and
pl. A censure, rebuke, etc.
| α 1513 Douglas æneis i. Prol. 452 Of resoun me behuvis Excuse Chaucer fra all maner repruvis. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. ix. 41 Unto this manifest and false reprofe..Jesus aunswered verey gentelye. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xii, How have I deserved these reproofs? 1879 Farrar St. Paul I. vi. xxiii. 445 A reproof is intolerable when it is administered out of pride or hatred. |
| β 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly L ij, What maistrie is it for them to set light store by two or three of those learned mens reprives. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. iv. 238 Pape Honorie, throuch scharpe writeings, accuised his wickednes w{supt} a sour repreife. |
† 4. a. The condition of being under censure or disapproval.
Obs. rare.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 370 (419), Ye nold han had no mercy ne mesure On me, but alwey had me in repreue. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 151 Ther as wrecchid greues, Sour lond, to weet, or salt is, neuer delue; And alwey thristy dri lond in repreue is. |
† b. Cause for censure; fault, blame.
Obs.| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints x. (Matthew) 367 Matrimone he can commend, gyf þat it will anowrnyt be..& but reprufe kepit alsa. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) iv. xxix. (1859) 62 All thyng..shold ben..good, and commendable, that noo repreef were founden therin. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 31 Do gude for euill, and leid ȝour lyfe Without reprufe. |
5. Disproof, refutation. Now
rare or
Obs.| 1529 More Dyaloge iv. Wks. 272/1 There were shewed vnto hym manye thynges for the reproofe of that vnresonable and detestable heresye. 1664 Jer. Taylor Dissuas. Popery ii. title-p., In..reproof and conviction of Roman Errors. 1739 C. Labelye Short Acc. Piers Westm. Bridge 38 As to the many false Reports..I leave the Piers of Westminster-Bridge, to give them the strongest Reproofs. 1814 Cary Dante, Parad. iii. 3 By proof of right, and of the false reproof. |
Hence
† reˈproofful a.;
reˈproofless a.| 1609 Ev. Woman in Hum. iv. i. in Bullen O. Pl. IV, This critique is hoarsh, unsaverie, and reproofeful. 1827–35 Willis David's Grief for Child 18 The rapt wires of his reproofless harp. |