improper
UK /ɪmˈpɹɒp.ə/ · US /ɪmˈpɹɑ.pɚ/ adjective, verb
Forms impropers impropering impropered impropre
- adjective Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
- adjective Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest. “improper conduct”
- adjective Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous.
- adjective Not consistent with established facts; incorrect.
- adjective Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction.
- adjective (obsolete) Not specific or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
- adjective (mathematics) Of a complex random variable, correlated with its conjugate.
- verb (obsolete, transitive) To appropriate; to assign (something, to someone) as a possession or prerogative.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”). By surface analysis, im- + proper.
From Middle English empropren, perhaps from an unattested Anglo-Norman variant enproprier of Anglo-Norman apropr(i)er, approprier, related to modern French approprier.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective 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.
- adjective Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
- verb To appropriate; to limit. [Obs.]
Etymology [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im- not + proprius proper. See Proper.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “improper”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details