Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Improper
1.
Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent;
as, an
improper
medicine; improper
thought, behavior, language, dress.Follow’d his enemy king, and did him service,
Improper
for a slave. Shakespeare
And to their proper operation still,
Ascribe all Good; to their
Ascribe all Good; to their
improper
, Ill. Pope.
2.
Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
[Obs.]
Not to be adorned with any art but such
improper
ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry. J. Fletcher.
Im-prop′er
,Verb.
T.
To appropriate; to limit.
[Obs.]
He would in like manner
improper
and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor. Jewel.
Webster 1828 Edition
Improper
IMPROP'ER
,Adj.
1.
Not proper; not suitable; not adapted to its end; unfit; as an improper medicine for a particular disease; an improper regulation.2.
Not becoming; not decent; not suited to the character, time or place; as improper conduct in church; improper behavior before superiors; an improper speech.3.
Not according to the settled usages or principles of a language; as an improper word or phrase.4.
Not suited to a particular place or office; unqualified; as, he is an improper man for the office.Definition 2024
improper
improper
English
Alternative forms
- impropre (obsolete)
Adjective
improper (comparative more improper, superlative most improper)
- unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt
- Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest
- Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous
- Not consistent with established facts; incorrect
- Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction
- (obsolete) Not specific or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
- J. Fletcher
- Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.
- J. Fletcher
Translations
unsuitable to needs or circumstances
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not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners
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Not according to facts
Not consistent with established facts
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Not properly named
Derived terms
Terms derived from improper
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Verb
improper (third-person singular simple present impropers, present participle impropering, simple past and past participle impropered)
- (obsolete, transitive) To appropriate; to limit.
- Jewel
- He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor.
- Jewel
- (obsolete) To behave improperly