Reproach — Defs

01 v. t. To come back to, or come home to, as a matter of blame; to bring shame or disgrace upon; to disgrace.

imp. & p. p. Reproached; p. pr. & vb. n. Reproaching

1.
To come back to, or come home to, as a matter of blame; to bring shame or disgrace upon; to disgrace.[Obs.]
“I thought your marriage fit; else imputation, For that he knew you, might reproach your life.” — Shak.
2.
To attribute blame to; to allege something disgraceful against; to charge with a fault; to censure severely or contemptuously; to upbraid.
“If ye be reproached for the name of Christ.” — 1 Peter iv. 14.

“That this newcomer, 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; chide; rebuke; condemn; revile; vilify.

02 n. The act of reproaching; censure mingled with contempt; contumelious or opprobrious language toward any person; abusive reflections; as, sev…

1.
The act of reproaching; censure mingled with contempt; contumelious or opprobrious language toward any person; abusive reflections; as, severe reproach.
“No reproaches even, even when pointed and barbed with the sharpest wit, appeared to give him pain.” — Macaulay.

“Give not thine heritage to reproach.” — Joel ii. 17.
2.
A cause of blame or censure; shame; disgrace.
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.