'reprover' originates from English, specifically formed from the verb 'reprove' plus the agent suffix '-er'; the verb 'reprove' itself comes ultimately from Latin elements where 're-' conveyed 'back/against' and Latin 'probare' meant 'to test, to approve'.

'reprover' changed from the verb form 'reprove' (Middle English < Old French reprover < Latin 'reprobare') and the agent noun was formed in English by adding the suffix '-er', eventually producing the modern English noun 'reprover'.

Initially related to Latin 'reprobare' meaning 'to reject or condemn', the sense shifted in English toward 'to express disapproval or criticize', and the noun came to mean 'one who reproves' rather than a formal legal rejection.