reformation

See also: Reformation, réformation, Réformâtion, and re-formation

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English reformacion, reformation, from Old French reformacion and Latin refōrmātiō, refōrmātiōnis (“reform, change”), from refōrmō (“transform, reshape”), from re- + fōrmō (“shape, form”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɹɛfəˈmeɪʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɹɛfɚˈmeɪʃən/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

reformation (countable and uncountable, plural reformations)

1. An improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices, etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social, political or religious affairs or in the conduct of persons or operation of organizations.
   • a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:

     […] olde men long nusled in corruption, scorning them that would seeke reformation […]

   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

     And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
     My reformation, glittering o'er my fault,
     Shall show more goodly, and attract more eyes
     Than that which hath no foil to set it off.

   • 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Innovation”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:

     It is good also, not to try experiments in states, except the necessity be urgent, or the utility evident; and well to beware, that it be the reformation, that draweth on the change, and not the desire of change, that pretendeth the reformation.

   • 1674 (date written), John Dryden, The State of Innocence, and Fall of Man: An Opera. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1677, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):

     […] satire lashes vice into reformation, and humour represents folly so as to render it ridiculous.

2. (law) Change or correction, by a court in equity, to a written instrument to conform to the original intention of the parties.
   • 1893, Christopher Gustavus Tiedeman, “Chapter XXIX”, in A Treatise on Equity Jurisprudence, §507 (footnotes omitted):

     All sorts of legal instruments may be reformed by equity, when the errors, which have been committed in the execution of them, are mutual mistakes or a mistake of one party combined with the fraud of the other. Thus, reformation has been decreed of all kinds of deeds of conveyance, including leases, mortgages, deeds of trust, marriage and family settlements. Likewise, bonds of all kinds, policies of insurance, assignments or release of mortgages, executory contracts for the sale of lands, the indorsement of a note, agreements for the establishment of a highway, military orders. So may, also, judgments and other records be corrected or be reformed.

Translations

improvement in the condition of institutions

• Bulgarian: обновяване n (obnovjavane), подобрение (bg) n (podobrenie)
• Finnish: uudistus (fi), reformaatio (fi); uskonpuhdistus (fi) (Reformation)
• Greek: μεταρρύθμιση (el) f (metarrýthmisi)

  Ancient: διόρθωσις f (diórthōsis)

• Portuguese: reforma (pt) f
• Russian: рефо́рма (ru) (refórma)
• Scottish Gaelic: ath-leasachadh m
• Tagalog: samulinyo

Further reading

• Protestant Reformation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

From re- +‎ formation.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɹiːfɔːˈmeɪʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɹifɔɹˈmeɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

reformation (plural reformations)

1. Alternative form of re-formation.

French

Etymology

From re- +‎ formation.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

reformation f (plural reformations)

1. re-formation

See also

• réformation