The Rollicking Word History of Reprobate

Hello,

This week’s word, with thanks to an old friend (she knows who she is) is the word reprobate. She dragged me out for cocktails and dinner in Dublin last weekend. I didn’t resist. Then she declared herself to be a reprobate. Naturally my etymology blog senses tingled and I made a mental note to explore the word today.

Cocktails for two reprobates

I hadn’t realised that reprobate is an adjective, noun, and verb. I’ll start with the oldest first, which is the verb. Probably the least used version of reprobate in modern times. To reprobate has been with us since the early 1400s when it was spelled reprobaten (to condemn or disapprove of). Despite the slightly Germanic spelling style this one was borrowed from Late Latin which had the verb reprobare (to reject or condemn). The meaning of the verb in English evolved with time and by the 1600s it meant to reject, put away, or set aside. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it used – have you?

The next form of reprobate to arrive was the adjective. By the early 1400s you could use it to describe something as rejected as worthless. Same roots at the verb. The Latin word is formed from re (back, or again) and probare (prove to be worthy). A related legal word is the idea of a will or inheritance getting probate – proving it to be correct and worthy. By the 1650s you could describe a person at being a reprobate if you meant they were “abandoned in character, morally depraved, unprincipled”. Not sure my friend is that bad, but hey after a few cocktails all the rules fly out the window!

Finally, the noun form arrived in the 1540s and by then it had taken a distinctly religious tone. It was somebody who was rejected by God because they were given over to sin.

Essentially reprobate means a person, action, or event which is unworthy. This word is one the Romans gave us. All the other meanings are evolutions of the word in English.

Until next time, happy reading, writing, and wordfooling,

Grace