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Reprobate vs Ruffian - What's the difference?

reprobate | ruffian |

As adjectives the difference between reprobate and ruffian

is that reprobate is (rare) rejected; cast off as worthless while ruffian is brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous.

As nouns the difference between reprobate and ruffian

is that reprobate is one rejected by god; a sinful person while ruffian is a scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.

As verbs the difference between reprobate and ruffian

is that reprobate is to have strong disapproval of something; to condemn while ruffian is to play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult.

reprobate

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) , past participle of reprobare.

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (rare) Rejected; cast off as worthless.
  • * Bible, Jer. vi. 30
  • Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them.
  • Rejected by God; damned, sinful.
  • * , ll. 696-7,
  • Strength and Art are easily out-done / By Spirits reprobate
  • Immoral, having no religious or principled character.
  • The reprobate criminal sneered at me.
  • * Milton
  • And strength, and art, are easily outdone / By spirits reprobate .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One rejected by God; a sinful person.
  • An individual with low morals or principles.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • I acknowledge myself for a reprobate , a villain, a traitor to the king.
  • * 1920 , (Herman Cyril McNeile), Bulldog Drummond Chapter 1
  • "Good morning, Mrs. Denny," he said. "Wherefore this worried look on your face? Has that reprobate James been misbehaving himself?"

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) reprobare.

    Verb

    (reprobat)
  • To have strong disapproval of something; to condemn.
  • Of God: to abandon or reject, to deny eternal bliss.
  • To refuse, set aside.
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    ruffian

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A scoundrel, rascal, or unprincipled, deceitful, brutal and unreliable person.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Wilt thou on thy deathbed play the ruffian ?
  • (obsolete) A pimp; a pander.
  • (obsolete) A lover; a paramour.
  • * Bishop Reynolds
  • He [her husband] is no sooner abroad than she is instantly at home, revelling with her ruffians .

    Synonyms

    * rogue * scamp

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To play the ruffian; to rage; to raise tumult.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Brutal; cruel; savagely boisterous; murderous.
  • ruffian rage
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----