From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Improper \Im*prop"er\, v. t.
To appropriate; to limit. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
He would in like manner improper and inclose the
sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor. --Jewel.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Improper \Im*prop"er\, a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im-
not + proprius proper. See Proper.]
1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances,
design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous;
inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper medicine;
improper thought, behavior, language, dress.
[1913 Webster]
Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service,
Improper for a slave. --Shak.
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And to their proper operation still,
Ascribe all Good; to their improper, Ill. --Pope.
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2. Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general;
common. [Obs.]
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Not to be adorned with any art but such improper
ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and
poetry. --J. Fletcher.
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3. Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous.
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Improper diphthong. See under Diphthong.
Improper feud, an original feud, not earned by military
service. --Mozley & W.
Improper fraction. See under Fraction.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
improper
adj 1: not suitable or right or appropriate; "slightly improper
to dine alone with a married man"; "improper medication";
"improper attire for the golf course" [ant: proper]
2: not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention;
"an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"
[syn: improper, unconventional, unlawful]
3: not appropriate for a purpose or occasion; "said all the
wrong things" [syn: improper, wrong]