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.
雙語例句
1. The government wanted to reform the institutions, to shake up the country.
政府想要實施機構改革，整頓國家。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The finance minister will continue to mastermind Poland's economic reform.
財政部長將繼續策劃波蘭的經濟改革。
來自柯林斯例句
3. The government took another step on the road to political reform.
政府在實現政治改革的路上又邁進了一步。
來自柯林斯例句
4. He was soon disillusioned by the government's timidity on social reform.
他不久就因政府在進行社會改革時縮手縮腳而不抱幻想了。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Economic reform will continue to be painful and ineffective.