improper
adjectiveverbattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɪmˈpɹɒp.ə//
- United States//ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ//
- Australia//ɪmˈpɹɔp.ə//
Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
adjective
- 1
Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
- 2
Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest.
improper conduct
- 3
Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous.
- 4
Not consistent with established facts; incorrect.
- 5
Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction.
- 6
obsoleteNot specific or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.
- 7
Of a complex random variable, correlated with its conjugate.
Etymology
From Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”). By surface analysis, im- + proper.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo appropriate; to assign (something, to someone) as a possession or prerogative.
He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor.
For quotations using this term, see Citations:improper.
Etymology
From Middle English empropren, perhaps from an unattested Anglo-Norman variant enproprier of Anglo-Norman apropr(i)er, approprier, related to modern French approprier.
Forms
- comparative
- more improper
- superlative
- most improper
- past tense
- impropered
- past participle
- impropered
- present participle
- impropering
- third person singular
- impropers
improper · Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
improve · To make (something) better; to increase the value or…improved · That has been made better; enhanced.improvement · The act of improving; advancement or growth; a bettering