Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Im-prō'pri-ā'trix, n. p. 668A woman who impropriates, or who holds possession of church lands.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…Ĭm'pros-pĕr'i-ty, n. p. 668Want of prosperity or success. [Obs.]Im-prŏs'per-oŭs, a. p. 668Not prosperous; not successful; unfortunate; as, an improsperous undertaking or voyage. [Obs.] Dryden.Im-prŏs'per-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 668In an improsperous manner; unprosperously. [Obs.] Boyle.Im-prŏs'per-oŭs-ness, n. p. 668Want of prosperity; ill success. [Obs.] Hammond.Im-prov'a-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 668The state or quality of being capable of improvement; susceptibility of being made better.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…Im-prov'a-ble-ness, n. p. 668Susceptibility of improvement; capableness of being made better, or of being used to advantage.Im-prov'a-bly, adv. p. 668In a manner that admits of improvement.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.…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…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…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…Im-prōv'er, n. p. 668One who, or that which, improves. W. Scott.Ĭm′pro-vīde′, v. t. p. 668Not to provide against; not to foresee or expect. [Obs.] Spenser.Im-prōv'i-dence, n. p. 668The quality of being improvident; want of providence or forecast; neglect of foresight.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…Im-prŏv′i-dĕn′tial-ly, adv. p. 668Improvidently; carelessly. Prof. Wilson.Im-prŏv'-i-dent-ly, adv. p. 668In an improvident manner; without foresight or forecast.Im-prōv'ing-ly, adv. p. 668In an improving manner.Im-prŏv'i-sate, a. p. 668Unpremeditated; impromptu.Im-prŏv'-i-sāte, v. t. or i. p. 668To compose and utter extemporaneously; to improvise.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.Ĭm′/pro-vĭs′/a-tīze, v. t. or i. p. 668The same as Improvisate.Ĭm'pro-vĭs'a-tor, n. p. 668One who improvisates or improvises; an improviser.Im-prŏv′ĭ-sa-tō′re, n. p. 668See IMPROVVISATORE.Im-prŏv'i-sa-tō'ri-al or Im-prŏv'i-sa-to-ry, a. p. 668Relating to extemporary composition of rhymes.Im-prōv'i-sa-tri'ce, n. p. 668See IMPROVVISATRICE.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.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.Ĭm’pro-vĭz’er, n. p. 669One who improvises; an improvisator.Im'pro-vi'sion, n. p. 669Want of forecast; improvidence. [Obs.] Browne.Im'pro-vī'so, a. p. 669Not prepared or meditated beforehand; extemporaneous; impromptu. [Obs.] Johnson.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.]Im-prŏv'vĕ-sa-trĭ'ce, n. p. 669A woman who composes and sings or recites rhymes or short poems extemporaneously. [Written also improvisatrice.]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…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…Im-prū'dent-ly, adv. p. 669In an imprudent manner; indiscreetly.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.Im-pū’ber-ty, n. p. 669Want of age at which the marriage contract can be legally entered into. Paley.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…Ĭm'pu-den-çy, n. p. 669Impudence. [Obs.] Burton.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…Ĭm'pu-dent-ly, adv. p. 669In an impudent manner; with indecent assurance; shamelessly. At once assail With open mouths, and impudently rail. Sandys.Ĭm’pu-dĭs’-i-ty, n. p. 669Immodesty. Sheldon.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.Im-pūgn'a-ble, a. p. 669Capable of being impugned.Im’pug-nā’tion, n. p. 669Opposition. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Im-pāgn'er, n. p. 669One who impugns; one who opposes or contradicts.Im-pūgn'ment, n. p. 669The act of impugning. Ed. Rev.Im-pū'is-sance, n. p. 669Impotence; weakness. [Obs.] Bacon.Im-pū'is-sant, a. p. 669Weak; impotent. [Obs.]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…Im-pŭlse′, v. t. p. 669To impel; to incite. [Obs. or poet.] Pope.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…Im-pŭl'sive, a. p. 669Having the power of driving or impelling; moving; impellent. Poor men! poor papers! We and they Do some impulsive force obey. Prior. 2. Actuated by impulse; as, a person who is impulsive often acts…Im-pūl'sive, n. p. 669That which impels or moves; impulsive agency; impelling cause; impulse.Im-pŭl'sĭve-ly, adv. p. 669With force; by impulse.Im-pūl'sive-ness, n. p. 669The quality of being impulsive.