reprobate
Meaning: An unprincipled or morally disreputable person. Often used with affectionate humour in British English to describe a lovable rogue or mischievous character.
Reprobate has an interesting dual register in British usage. In its original theological sense, it described someone condemned by God — a soul beyond salvation. In modern everyday English, however, it is frequently used with wry affection, particularly of older men who drink too much, flout conventions, or lead colourful lives. The word can be a genuine insult or a fond nickname, depending entirely on tone and context. As an adjective, it means morally unprincipled.
Examples
- Uncle Gerald was a charming reprobate who had been thrown out of three gentleman's clubs and two marriages. 杰拉尔德叔叔是个迷人的浪荡子,曾被三家绅士俱乐部和两任妻子扫地出门。El tío Gerald era un reprobado encantador al que habían expulsado de tres clubes de caballeros y dos matrimonios.ジェラルドおじさんは魅力的な道楽者で、紳士クラブ三つと結婚二回から追い出されていた。제럴드 삼촌은 매력적인 한량으로, 신사 클럽 세 곳과 두 번의 결혼에서 쫓겨난 경력이 있었다.
- The memoir paints a vivid portrait of the literary reprobates who gathered at the Coach and Horses in Soho during the 1960s. 这本回忆录生动描绘了1960年代聚集在苏活区'驿马与猎犬'酒馆的文坛浪子们。Las memorias pintan un retrato vívido de los reprobados literarios que se reunían en el Coach and Horses de Soho durante los años sesenta.その回想録は、1960年代にソーホーの「コーチ・アンド・ホーセズ」に集まった文壇の放蕩者たちを鮮やかに描いている。그 회고록은 1960년대 소호의 '코치 앤드 호시스' 술집에 모여들었던 문단의 방탕아들을 생생하게 그리고 있다.
- The magistrate described the defendant as a reprobate with a string of petty convictions stretching back twenty years. 治安法官形容被告是个累犯,轻罪记录延续了二十年之久。El magistrado describió al acusado como un reprobado con una retahíla de condenas menores que se remontaba a veinte años.治安判事は被告を、20年にわたる軽犯罪の前科を持つ不埒な人物と評した。치안판사는 피고를 20년에 걸친 경범죄 전과를 가진 불량한 인물이라고 묘사했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general, literary
Tone: humorous
Origin & History
From Latin reprobatus, past participle of reprobare (to disapprove, to reject), from re- (back) and probare (to test, to approve). Originally a theological term for the spiritually damned.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free