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reproach

rih-PROHCH · verb

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Origin

English reproach comes from Middle English reprochen, from Old French reprochier, which traces back to Vulgar Latin *repropiō — built from Latin re- ("back, again") plus propriō, a form related to proprius, meaning "one's own" or "near."

Journey

The Vulgar Latin root suggests an original sense close to "bring near again" or "close the distance," which shifted through Old French reprochier and Middle English reprochen into the modern meaning of expressing blame or disapproval.

Related words

It shares its deeper root with proprius, the Latin ancestor of English "proper" — both trace back to the idea of something being one's own or close at hand.

More words

From Old French

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