Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,528,383,781 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

Improperly

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
im·prop·er  (m-prpr)
adj.
1. Not suited to circumstances or needs; unsuitable: improper shoes for a hike; improper medical treatment.
2. Not in keeping with conventional mores; indecorous: improper behavior.
3. Not consistent with established truth, fact, or rule; incorrect.
4. Irregular or abnormal.
im·proper·ly adv.
im·proper·ness n.
Synonyms: improper, unbecoming, unseemly, indelicate, indecent, indecorous
These adjectives mean not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper. Improper often refers to unethical conduct, a breach of etiquette, or morally offensive behavior: improper business practices; improper behavior at the dinner table.
Unbecoming suggests what is beneath the standard implied by one's character or position: language unbecoming to an officer.
What is unseemly or indelicate is in gross violation of good taste; indelicate especially suggests immodesty, coarseness, or tactlessness: an unseemly use of profanity; an indelicate suggestion.
Indecent refers to what is morally offensive or harmful: an earthy but not indecent story.
Indecorous implies violation of societal manners: an indecorous remark about overeating.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.improperly - in an improper way; "he checked whether the wound had healed improperly"
decent, in good order, properly, the right way, decently, right - in the right manner; "please do your job properly!"; "can't you carry me decent?"


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Tyrrel, most unwisely and improperly, sent for Norah, and, repeating the conversation that had taken place, warned her of the reception she might expect from the man who stood toward you in the position of a father, if she accepted an offer of marriage on your part.
No Name by Collins, Wilkie View in context
He has not been suffi- ciently rubbed and curried, or he has not been prop- erly fed; his food was too wet or too dry; he got it too soon or too late; he was too hot or too cold; he had too much hay, and not enough of grain; or he had too much grain, and not enough of hay; instead of old Barney's attending to the horse, he had very improperly left it to his son.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass An American Slave by Douglass, Frederick View in context
He had the whole Scriptures in his memory, but seemed to have been at more pains to retain them than understand them; as he talked much he often took occasion to quote them, and did it almost always improperly.
A Voyage to Abyssinia by Lobo, Father View in context
More results
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.