Reproach

[imp. & p. p. REPROACHED (re-prōcht'); p. pr. & vb. n. REPROACHING.] [Fr. reprocher, O. Fr. reprochier, Pr. reprochar, Sp. reprochar, It. rimprocciare, rimproverare, Lat. as if repropare, from re, again, against, back, and prope, near; Fr. proche, Pr. prop. Cf. APPROACH.] To come back to in blame; to censure with severity, and sometimes with contempt; to charge with a fault in severe language; to upbraid. That shame There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. Milton. Mezentius with his ardor warmed His fainting friends, reproached their shameful flight, Repelled the victors. Dryden. Syn.—To upbraid; censure; blame; rebuke; condemn; revile; vilify.

n. [Fr. & Sp. reproche, Pr. reproche, It. rimproccio, rimprovero. See supra.]

1Sense 1. An expression of blame or censure; censure mingled with contempt or derision; contumelious or opprobrious language toward any person; abusive reflections; as, foul-mouthed reproach.

No reproaches even, even when pointed and barbed with the sharpest wit, appeared to give him pain. Macaulay.

2Sense 2. An occasion of blame or censure; shame; infamy; disgrace.

Give not thine heritage to reproach. Joel ii. 17.

3Sense 3. An object of blame, censure, scorn, or derision.

Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Neh. ii. 17.

Synonyms— Disrepute; discredit; dishonor; scandal; opprobrium; invective; contumely; reviling; abuse; vilification; scurrility; insolence; insult; scorn; contempt; ignominy; shame; disgrace; infamy.