reprob

Reprob is an English verb meaning to condemn, disapprove of, or reject. It is a relatively rare or archaic form, often appearing as a shortened or mistaken rendering of longer terms such as reprobate or reprobation. In general use, speakers would more commonly express the idea with verbs like condemn, disapprove, denounce, or reject.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from the Latin reprobare, meaning to condemn or disapprove, through older stages of English. Historically its usage appears in religious and rhetorical writing, where discussants might describe something as being rejected or deemed morally unacceptable. Today, reprobate as a separate form is more familiar, while reprob is encountered chiefly in scholarly, historical, or peculiarly formal contexts.

In theology and literature: Reprobation is a term most often associated with doctrinal discussions about predestination, notably among Calvinist and Augustinian theology, where the reprobate are those not elected for salvation. The noun reprobate can refer to a person who is morally unprincipled or depraved, though this sense is more common in older or polemical writing. The verb form reprobate (to reprobate as a verb) appears infrequently in modern usage.

Modern usage: In contemporary English, reprob is rarely needed; most writers would use condemn, disapprove, reject, or denounce. When encountered, it is typically within historical texts, religious discourse, or discussions about doctrinal terminology. As with related terms, its precise sense depends on context, especially whether it conveys moral disapproval or theological condemnation.