improper

English

Alternative forms

• impropre (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ɪmˈprɒp.ə/
• (Australia) IPA: /ɪmˈprɔp.ə/
• (GenAm) IPA: /ɪmˈprɑ.pɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɒpə(ɹ)

Adjective

improper (comparative more improper, superlative most improper)

1. unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt
2. Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest
3. Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous
4. Not consistent with established facts; incorrect
5. Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction

Translations

unsuitable to needs or circumstances

• Basque: ezegoki (eu)
• Catalan: impropi (ca)
• Dutch: ongepast (nl)
• Finnish: sopimaton (fi)
• French: inconvenant (fr)
• German: unpassend (de)

• Norwegian: upassende (no), uegnet (no)
• Portuguese: impróprio (pt)
• Romanian: impropriu (ro)
• Slovene: neprimeren (sl)
• Turkish: uygunsuz (tr)

not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners

• Catalan: impropi (ca)
• Dutch: ongeschikt (nl), misplaatst (nl)
• Finnish: säädytön (fi), sopimaton (fi)
• French: grossier (fr)

• Norwegian: upassende (no), uanstendig (no)
• Portuguese: impróprio, indecente, indecoroso.
• Turkish: uygunsuz (tr), yakışıksız (tr)

Not according to facts

• Dutch: onjuist (nl), foutief (nl)
• Finnish: väärä (fi)
• French: incorrect (fr), fautif (fr)

• Norwegian: uriktig (no), feilaktig (no), urettmessig (no)
• Portuguese: impróprio (pt), incorreto (pt)
• Turkish: yanlış (tr)

Not consistent with established facts

• Dutch: inconsistent (nl), foutief (nl)
• French: inconsistant (fr), fautif (fr)

• Norwegian: uriktig (no)
• Portuguese: impróprio (pt), incorreto (pt)

Not properly named

• Catalan: impropi (ca)
• Dutch: verkeerd omschreven (nl)
• French: décrit incorrectement (fr)

• Norwegian: feilaktig (no)
• Portuguese: impróprio (pt)

Derived terms

Terms derived from improper

improper divisor improper face improper fit improper fraction

improper integral improper motion improper node improper orthogonal transformation

improper rotation improper use improper workmanship

Verb

improper (third-person singular simple present impropers, present participle impropering, simple past and past participle impropered)

1. (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.

2. (obsolete) To behave improperly

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.