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   Re·form

   /rəˈfôrm/

   

   verb

   • 1. make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it: "an opportunity to reform and restructure an antiquated schooling model" Similar improvemake betterbetteramelioraterefinemendrectifycorrectrehabilitatealtermake alterations tochangeadjustmake adjustments toadaptamendreviserecastreshaperefashionredesignrestylerevamprenovatereworkredoremakerebuildreconstructremodelmake overremoldreorganizerevolutionizereorientreorientatevarytransformconvertcustomizetailortechnical:permuterare:permutateOpposite preservemaintain
   • ▪ bring about a change in (someone) so that they no longer behave in an immoral, criminal, or self-destructive manner: "the state has a duty to reform criminals"
   • ▪ (of a person) change oneself for the better: "it was only when his drunken behavior led to blows that he started to reform" Similar mend one's wayschange for the betterchange completelymake a fresh startturn over a new leafbecome a new personreconstruct oneselfimprovego straightget back on the straight and narrowOpposite worsen
   • 2. subject (hydrocarbons) to a catalytic process in which straight-chain molecules are converted to branched forms for use in gasoline.

   noun

   • 1. the action or process of reforming an institution or practice: "the reform of the divorce laws"

   adjective

   • 1. of, denoting, or pertaining to Reform Judaism: "a Reform rabbi"

   Word Origin Middle English (as a verb in the senses ‘restore (peace)’ and ‘bring back to the original condition’): from Old French reformer or Latin reformare, from re- ‘back’ + formare ‘to form, shape’. The noun dates from the mid 17th century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. reformable adjective
   • 2. reformative adjective

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • M

     3

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