What does "improper" mean?
Improper: 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.
Additional senses
- 2.Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous. Improper diphthong. See under Diphthong. -- Improper feud, an originalfeud, not earned by military service. Mozley & W. -- Improper fraction. See under Fraction.
- 3.To appropriate; to limit. [Obs.] He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor. Jewel.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00