Reprimand, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Reprimanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Reprimanding.]
Etymology: [Cf. F. réprimander. See Reprimand, n.]
1. To reprove severely; to reprehend; to chide for a fault; to consure formally. Germanicus was severely reprimanded by Tiberius for traveling into Egypt without his permission. Arbuthnot.
2. To reprove publicly and officially, in execution of a sentence; as, the court ordered him to be reprimanded.
Syn. -- To reprove; reprehend; chide; rebuke; censure; blame. See Reprove.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Reprimand (rpr-mnd), n.
Severe or formal reproof; reprehension, private or public. Goldsmith gave his landlady a sharp reprimand for her treatment of him. Macaulay.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for reprimand; he lists it under reproof, reprove.
Where he writes about it:
Reprimand is official censure formally administered by a superior to one under his command. — from reproof
To censure is to pronounce an adverse judgment that may or may not be expressed to the person censured; to reprove is to censure authoritatively, openly, and directly to the face of the person reproved; to rebuke is to reprove with sharpness, and often with abruptness, usually in the midst of some action or course of action deemed censurable; to reprimand is to reprove officially; to blame is a familiar word signifying to pass censure upon, make answerable, as for a fault; blame and censure apply either to persons or acts; reprove and rebuke are applied chiefly, and reprimand exclusively to persons. — from reprove