1. The act of impropriating; as, the impropriation of property or tithes; also, that which is impropriated.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Law) (a) The act of putting an ecclesiastical benefice in the hands of a layman, or lay
corporation. (b) A benefice in the hands of a layman, or of a lay corporation.
Impropriator
(Im*pro"pri*a`tor) n. One who impropriates; specifically, a layman in possession of church
property.
Impropriatrix
(Im*pro`pri*a"trix) n.; pl. E. -trixes, L. -trices A female impropriator.
Impropriety
(Im`pro*pri"e*ty) n.; pl. Improprieties [L. improprietas; cf. F. impropriété. See Improper.]
1. The quality of being improper; unfitness or unsuitableness to character, time place, or circumstances; as,
impropriety of behavior or manners.
2. That which is improper; an unsuitable or improper act, or an inaccurate use of language.
But every language has likewise its improprieties and absurdities.
Johnson.
Many gross improprieties, however authorized by practice, ought to be discarded.
Swift. Improsperity
(Im`pros*per"i*ty) n. [Cf. F. improspérité.] Want of prosperity. [Obs.]
Improsperous
(Im*pros"per*ous) a. [Pref. im- not + prosperous: cf. F. improspère, L. improsper.]
Not prosperous. [Obs.] Dryden. - - Im*pros"per*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] — Im*pros"per*ous*ness, n.
[Obs.]
Improvability
(Im*prov`a*bil"i*ty) n. The state or quality of being improvable; improvableness.
Improvable
(Im*prov"a*ble) a. [From Improve.]
1. Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; capable of
cultivation, or of being advanced in good qualities.
Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his faculties.
Sir M. Hale.
I have a fine spread of improvable lands.
Addison. 2. Capable of being used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous.
The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better.
Sir T. Browne. — Im*pro"a*ble*ness, n. — Im*prov"a*bly, adv.
Improve
(Im*prove") v. t. [Pref. im- not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver.]
1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [Obs.]
Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve.
Tyndale. 2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [Obs.] Chapman.
When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.
Tyndale. Improve
(Im*prove"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Improved ; p. pr. & vb. n. Improving.] [Pref. in- in + prove,
in approve. See Approve, Prove.]
