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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Im-prō'pri-āte, v. t.p. 668To appropriate to private use; to assume. [Obs.] “To impropriate the thanks to himself.” Bacon. 2. (Eng. Eccl. Law.) To place the profits of, for care and disbursement, in the hands of a layman; —…
  2. Im-prō'pri-ate, a.p. 668(Eng. Eccl. Law.) Devolved into the hands of a layman; impropriated.
  3. Im-prō'pri-ā'tion, n.p. 668The act of impropriating; as, the impropriation of property or tithes; especially, (Eng. Eccl. Law.) (a.) The act of putting an ecclesiastical benefice in the hands of a layman, or lay corporation.…
  4. Im-prō'pri-ā'tor, n.p. 668One who impropriates; especially, a layman who has possession of the lands of the church, or an ecclesiastical living. Ayliffe.
  5. Im-prō'pri-ā'trix, n.p. 668A woman who impropriates, or who holds possession of church lands.
  6. Ĭm'pro-prī'e-ty, n.p. 668The 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 act…
  7. Ĭm'pros-pĕr'i-ty, n.p. 668Want of prosperity or success. [Obs.]
  8. Im-prŏs'per-oŭs, a.p. 668Not prosperous; not successful; unfortunate; as, an improsperous undertaking or voyage. [Obs.] Dryden.
  9. Im-prŏs'per-oŭs-ly, adv.p. 668In an improsperous manner; unprosperously. [Obs.] Boyle.
  10. Im-prŏs'per-oŭs-ness, n.p. 668Want of prosperity; ill success. [Obs.] Hammond.
  11. Im-prov'a-bĭl'i-ty, n.p. 668The state or quality of being capable of improvement; susceptibility of being made better.
  12. Im-prov'a-ble, a.p. 668Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; advanceable in good qualities. Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his…
  13. Im-prov'a-ble-ness, n.p. 668Susceptibility of improvement; capableness of being made better, or of being used to advantage.
  14. Im-prov'a-bly, adv.p. 668In a manner that admits of improvement.
  15. Im-prove', v. t.p. 668To disprove or make void. [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; as, to improve negligence.…
  16. Im-prove', v. t.p. 668To make better; to advance in value or good qualities; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land, talents, &c. Manure thyself, then; to thyself be improved; And with vain, outward…
  17. Im-prove', v. i.p. 668To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement. We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury. 2. To advance or progress in bad…
  18. Im-prov'e'ment, n.p. 668The act of improving, or the state of being improved; advancement in growth, or promotion of growth, in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the…
  19. Im-prōv'er, n.p. 668One who, or that which, improves. W. Scott.
  20. Ĭm′pro-vīde′, v. t.p. 668Not to provide against; not to foresee or expect. [Obs.] Spenser.
  21. Im-prōv'i-dence, n.p. 668The quality of being improvident; want of providence or forecast; neglect of foresight.
  22. Im-prōv'i-dent, a.p. 668Not provident; wanting forecast; not foreseeing, or provided for or against what will happen in future time; negligent; thoughtless. Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good, This sudden…
  23. Im-prŏv′i-dĕn′tial-ly, adv.p. 668Improvidently; carelessly. Prof. Wilson.
  24. Im-prŏv'-i-dent-ly, adv.p. 668In an improvident manner; without foresight or forecast.
  25. Im-prōv'ing-ly, adv.p. 668In an improving manner.
  26. Im-prŏv'i-sate, a.p. 668Unpremeditated; impromptu.
  27. Im-prŏv'-i-sāte, v. t. or i.p. 668To compose and utter extemporaneously; to improvise.
  28. Im-prŏv/i-sā'/tion, n.p. 668The act or art of making poetry, or performing music extemporaneously. 2. That which is improvised; an impromptu.
  29. Ĭm′/pro-vĭs′/a-tīze, v. t. or i.p. 668The same as Improvisate.
  30. Ĭm'pro-vĭs'a-tor, n.p. 668One who improvisates or improvises; an improviser.
  31. Im-prŏv′ĭ-sa-tō′re, n.p. 668See IMPROVVISATORE.
  32. Im-prŏv'i-sa-tō'ri-al or Im-prŏv'i-sa-to-ry, a.p. 668Relating to extemporary composition of rhymes.
  33. Im-prōv'i-sa-tri'ce, n.p. 668See IMPROVVISATRICE.
  34. Ĭm′pro-vīse′, v. t.p. 668To speak extemporaneously, especially in verse. 2. To bring about on a sudden, off-hand, or without previous preparation. Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.
  35. Im'pro-vīse', v. i.p. 669To utter compositions, especially in verse, without previous preparation; hence, to do any thing off-hand; as, to improvise successfully.
  36. Ĭm’pro-vĭz’er, n.p. 669One who improvises; an improvisator.
  37. Im'pro-vi'sion, n.p. 669Want of forecast; improvidence. [Obs.] Browne.
  38. Im'pro-vī'so, a.p. 669Not prepared or meditated beforehand; extemporaneous; impromptu. [Obs.] Johnson.
  39. Im·prŏv'ĭ·sa·tō're, n.p. 669A man who composes and sings or recites rhymes and short poems extemporaneously and immediately. [Written also improvisatore.]
  40. Im-prŏv'vĕ-sa-trĭ'ce, n.p. 669A woman who composes and sings or recites rhymes or short poems extemporaneously. [Written also improvisatrice.]
  41. Im-prū'dence, n.p. 669The quality of being imprudent; want of prudence; indiscretion; want of caution, circumspection, or a due regard to consequences; heedlessness; inconsideration; rashness. His serenity was…
  42. Im-pru'dent, a.p. 669Not prudent; wanting prudence or discretion; indiscreet; injudicious; not attentive to consequences; rash; heedless. Her majesty took a great dislike at the imprudent behavior of many of the…
  43. Im-prū'dent-ly, adv.p. 669In an imprudent manner; indiscreetly.
  44. Im-pū'ber-al, a.p. 669Not having arrived at puberty. In impūberal animals the cerebellum is, in proportion to the brain proper, greatly less than in adult. Sir W. Hamilton.
  45. Im-pū’ber-ty, n.p. 669Want of age at which the marriage contract can be legally entered into. Paley.
  46. Ĭm'pu-dençe, n.p. 669The quality of being impudent; assurance, accompanied with a disregard of the presence or opinions of others; shamelessness; want of modesty. Those clear truths that either their own evidence forces…
  47. Ĭm'pu-den-çy, n.p. 669Impudence. [Obs.] Burton.
  48. Ĭm'pu-dent, a.p. 669Bold, with contempt or disregard of others; unblushingly forward; wanting modesty; shameless. When we behold an angel, not to fear Is to be impudent. Dryden. Syn. — Shameless; audacious; brazen…
  49. Ĭm'pu-dent-ly, adv.p. 669In an impudent manner; with indecent assurance; shamelessly. At once assail With open mouths, and impudently rail. Sandys.
  50. Ĭm’pu-dĭs’-i-ty, n.p. 669Immodesty. Sheldon.
  51. Im-pūgn', v. t.p. 669To attack by words or arguments; to contradict; to assail; to call in question; to make insinuations against; to gainsay. The truth hereof I will not rashly impugn, or over-boldly affirm. Peacham.
  52. Im-pūgn'a-ble, a.p. 669Capable of being impugned.
  53. Im’pug-nā’tion, n.p. 669Opposition. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
  54. Im-pāgn'er, n.p. 669One who impugns; one who opposes or contradicts.
  55. Im-pūgn'ment, n.p. 669The act of impugning. Ed. Rev.
  56. Im-pū'is-sance, n.p. 669Impotence; weakness. [Obs.] Bacon.
  57. Im-pū'is-sant, a.p. 669Weak; impotent. [Obs.]
  58. Im'pul-se, n.p. 669The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; the action of a force so as to produce motion suddenly, or without appreciable lapse of time. 2. The effect of an impelling…
  59. Im-pŭlse′, v. t.p. 669To impel; to incite. [Obs. or poet.] Pope.
  60. Im-pŭl'sion, n.p. 669The act of impelling or driving onward; the sudden or momentary agency of a body in motion on another body. 2. Influence acting unexpectedly or temporarily on the mind, from without or within; sudden…