improper
Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
Adjective
- Unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt.
- Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest.
- improper conduct
- Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous.
- Not consistent with established facts; incorrect.
- Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction.
- Not 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. - 1608, John Fletcher, The Faithful Shepherdess:
- Of a complex random variable, correlated with its conjugate.
Origin
From Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”). By surface analysis, im- + proper.
Forms
Synonyms
Derived
improper divisor improper face improper fit improper fraction improper integral improper motion improperness improper node improper noun improper orthogonal transformation improper rotation improper time improper use improper workmanship
Verb
- To 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. - 1565, John Jewel, letter to Thomas Harding:
- For quotations using this term, see Citations:improper.
Origin
From Middle English empropren, perhaps from an unattested Anglo-Norman variant enproprier of Anglo-Norman apropr(i)er, approprier, related to modern French approprier.