c. 1300, "to convert into another and better form," from Old French reformer "rebuild, reconstruct, recreate" (12c.), from Latin reformare "to form again, change, transform, alter," from re- "again" (see re-) + formare "to form" (see form (n.)). Intransitive sense from 1580s.
Meaning "to bring (a person) away from an evil course of life" is recorded from early 15c.; of governments, institutions, etc., from early 15c. Related: Reformed; reforming. Reformed churches (1580s) usually are Calvinist as opposed to Lutheran. Reformed Judaism (1843) is a movement initiated in Germany by Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786). Reform school is attested from 1859.
reform (n.)
"any proceeding which brings back a better order of things," 1660s, from reform (v.) and in some uses from French réforme. As a branch of Judaism from 1843.
双语例句
1. The government wanted to reform the institutions, to shake up the country.
政府想要实施机构改革，整顿国家。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The finance minister will continue to mastermind Poland's economic reform.
财政部长将继续策划波兰的经济改革。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The government took another step on the road to political reform.
政府在实现政治改革的路上又迈进了一步。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He was soon disillusioned by the government's timidity on social reform.
他不久就因政府在进行社会改革时缩手缩脚而不抱幻想了。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Economic reform will continue to be painful and ineffective.
