different between flunk vs reprove

English

Etymology

Alteration of funk, or perhaps a blend of flinch +? funk.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fl??k/
• Rhymes: -??k

Verb

flunk (third-person singular simple present flunks, present participle flunking, simple past and past participle flunked)

1. (US, transitive, intransitive) Of a student, to fail a class; to not pass.

   He flunked math, again.

2. (US, transitive) Of a teacher, to deny a student a passing grade.

   Unsatisfied with Fred's progress, the teacher flunked him.

3. (US, dated, informal) To shirk (a task or duty).
4. To back out through fear. (Commonly in the phrase 'flunk it', the 'it' referring to a specific task avoided; sometimes without specific reference, describing a person's attitude to life in general.)

Translations

See also

• flunk out

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English repreven, reproven, from Anglo-Norman reprover, Middle French reprouver, from Latin reprob?re. Doublet of reprobate.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???p?u?v/
• Rhymes: -u?v

Verb

reprove (third-person singular simple present reproves, present participle reproving, simple past and past participle reproved)

1. (intransitive) to express disapproval. [from 14th c.]

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:reprehend

2. (transitive) to criticise, rebuke or reprimand (someone), usually in a gentle and kind tone. [from 14th c.]
   • 1611, Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, Proverbs IX.8:

     Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

3. (transitive) to deny or reject (a feeling, behaviour, action etc.). [from 14th c.]
   • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 856:

     She ached to be with Affad again – and to reprove the feeling she frowned and bit her lip.

Derived terms

• reproof
• reproval

Translations

Etymology 2

re- +? prove

Verb

reprove (third-person singular simple present reproves, present participle reproving, simple past reproved, past participle reproven)

1. (transitive) To prove again.

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?vi

Verb

reprove

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of reprovar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of reprovar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of reprovar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of reprovar