Re-form" (r?*f?rm"),
v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Re-formed (-f?rmd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Re-forming.]
To give a new form to; to form anew; to
take form again, or to take a new form; as, to
re- form the line after a charge.
Re*form" , n. [F. réforme.]
Amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved; reformation; as, reform of elections; reform of government.
Civil service reform. See under Civil. --
Reform acts (Eng. Politics), acts of Parliament passed in 1832,
1867, 1884, 1885, extending and equalizing popular representation in Parliament. -- Reform school, a school established by a state or city government, for the confinement, instruction, and reformation of juvenile offenders, and of young persons of idle, vicious, and vagrant habits. [U. S.]
Syn. -- Reformation; amendment; rectification; correction. See Reformation.
Re*form" , v. i. To return to a good state; to amend or correct one's
own character or habits; as, a man of settled habits of vice will
seldom reform.
Re*form" (r?*f?rm"),
v. t. [F. réformer, L. reformare;
pref. re- re- +
formare to form, from forma form. See Form.]
To put into a new and
improved form or condition; to restore to a
former good state, or bring from bad to good; to change from worse to
better; to amend; to correct; as, to reform a profligate man; to reform corrupt manners or morals.
The example alone of a vicious prince will corrupt an age; but that of a good one will
not reform it.
Swift.
Syn. -- To amend; correct; emend; rectify; mend; repair; better; improve; restore; reclaim.
Hear it pronounced