English → Latin
“reform” in Latin
efficiōto make out or work out; effect, execute, complete, accomplish, make, form, compose; to cause to occur, to bring about, corrigōto correct (set right); to straighten; to make alterations or improvements in, amend, reformēmendōto free from faults, correct, improve, remedy, amend, revise, cure; to correct by punishment, chastise, atone or compensrevocōto recall (troops, etc.), to call back; to withdraw; to revive
The English word reform itself goes back to Latin fōrmō, through reformo.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
reform v.
Transitively, melius facere or efficere (to make better): corrigere (to correct or improve as a whole something defective, not right, etc.): emendare (to free anything from faults). (The words are found in this connection and order.) corrigere et emendare; emendare et corrigere. To reform one’s ways, mores corrigere or emendare. (The younger Plin., has corrupt os depravatosque mores reformare et corrigere.)
Intransitively, To improve, with respect to morals, mores suos mutare; in viam redire; ad virtutem redire or revocari; ad bonam frugem se recipere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for reform?
- The usual Latin words for “reform” are efficiō, corrigō, ēmendō; also revocō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.