Imprint - Imprudent

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Imprint (?), n. [Cf. F. empreinte impress, stamp. See , v. t.] Whatever is impressed or imprinted; the impress or mark left by something; specifically, the name of the printer or publisher (usually) with the time and place of issue, in the title-page of a book, or on any printed sheet. “That imprint of their hands.” Buckle.
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imprinting (?), n. (Ethology, Psychology) The learning of a behavioral pattern that occurs soon after birth or hatching in certain animals, in which a long-lasting response to an individual (such as a parent) or an object is rapidly acquired; it is particularly noted in the response of certain birds to the animal they first see after hatching, usually the parent, as in ducks who will follow the adult duck they first see.
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Imprison (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imprisoned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Imprisoning.] [OE. enprisonen, OF. enprisoner, F. emprisonner; pref. en- (L. in) + F. & OF. prison. See .] 1. To put in prison or jail; To arrest and detain in custody; to confine.
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He imprisoned was in chains remediless. Spenser.
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2. To limit, restrain, or confine in any way.
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Try to imprison the resistless wind. Dryden.

Syn. -- To incarcerate; confine; immure.
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Imprisoner (?), n. One who imprisons.
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Imprison ment (?), n. [OE. enprisonment; F. emprisonnement.] The act of imprisoning, or the state of being imprisoned; confinement; restraint.
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His sinews waxen weak and raw
Through long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser.
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Every confinement of the person is an imprisonment, whether it be in a common prison, or in a private house, or even by foreibly detaining one in the public streets. Blackstone.
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Coloq. False imprisonment . (Law) See under .

Syn. -- Incarceration; custody; confinement; durance; restraint.
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Improbability (?), n.; pl. Improbabilities (#). [Cf. F. improbabilité.] The quality or state of being improbable; unlikelihood; also, that which is improbable; an improbable event or result.
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Improbable (?), a. [L. improbabilis; pref. im- not + probabilis probable: cf. F. improbable. See .] Not probable; unlikely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances or in the usual course of events; as, an improbable story or event.
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He . . . sent to Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover. Milton.

-- Improbableness, n. -- Improbably, adv.
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Improbate (?), v. t. [L. improbatus, p. p. of improbare to disapprove; pref. im- not + probare to approve.] To disapprove of; to disallow. [Obs.]
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Improbation (?), n. [L. improbatio.] 1. The act of disapproving; disapprobation.
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2. (Scots Law) The act by which falsehood and forgery are proved; an action brought for the purpose of having some instrument declared false or forged. Bell.

{ Improbative (?), Improbatory (?) }, a. Implying, or tending to, improbation.
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Improbity (?), n. [L. improbitas; pref. im- not + probitas probity: cf. F. improbité.] Lack of probity; lack of integrity or rectitude; dishonesty.
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Persons . . . cast out for notorious improbity. Hooker.

{ Improficience (?), Improficiency, } n. Lack of proficiency. [R.] Bacon.
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Improfitable (?), a. [Pref. im- not + profitable: cf. F. improfitable.] Unprofitable. [Obs.]
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Improgressive (?), a. Not progressive. De Quincey. -- Improgressively, adv.
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Improlific (?), a. [Pref. im- not + prolific: cf. F. improlifique.] Not prolific. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
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Improlificate (?), v. t. [Pref. im- in + prolificate.] To impregnate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Imprompt (?), a. Not ready. [R.] Sterne.
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Impromptu (?), adv. or a. [F. impromptu, fr. L. in promptu in readiness, at hand; in in + promptus visibility, readiness, from promptus visible, ready. See .] Offhand; without previous study; extemporaneous; extempore; as, an impromptu verse.
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Impromptu, n. 1. Something made or done offhand, at the moment, or without previous study; an extemporaneous composition, address, or remark.
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2. (Mus.) A piece composed or played at first thought; a composition in the style of an extempore piece.
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Improper (?), a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im- not + proprius proper. See .] 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.
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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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Coloq. Improper diphthong . See under . -- Coloq. Improper feud , an original feud, not earned by military service. Mozley & W. -- Coloq. Improper fraction . See under .
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Improper, v. t. To appropriate; to limit. [Obs.]
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He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor. Jewel.
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Improperation (?), n. [L. improperare, improperatum, to taunt.] The act of upbraiding or taunting; a reproach; a taunt. [Obs.]
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Improperatios and terms of scurrility. Sir T. Browne
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Improperia (?), n. pl. [L., reproaches.] (Mus.) A series of antiphons and responses, expressing the sorrowful remonstrance of our Lord with his people; -- sung on the morning of the Good Friday in place of the usual daily Mass of the Roman ritual. Grove.
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Improperly (?), adv. In an improper manner; not properly; unsuitably; unbecomingly.
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Improperty (?), n. Impropriety. [Obs.]
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Impropitious (?), a. Unpropitious; unfavorable. [Obs.] “Dreams were impropitious.” Sir H. Wotton.
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Improportionable (?), a. Not proportionable. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Improportionate (?), a. Not proportionate. [Obs.]
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Impropriate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impropriated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impropriating (?).] [Pref. im- in + L. propriatus, p. p. of propriare to appropriate. See .] 1. To appropriate to one's self; to assume. [Obs.]
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To impropriate the thanks to himself. Bacon.
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2. (Eng. Eccl. Law) To place the profits of (ecclesiastical property) in the hands of a layman for care and disbursement.
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Impropriate, v. i. To become an impropriator. [R.]
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Impropriate (?), a. (Eng. Eccl. Law) Put into the hands of a layman; impropriated.
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Impropriation (?), n. 1. The act of impropriating; as, the impropriation of property or tithes; also, that which is impropriated.
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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.
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Impropriator (?), n. One who impropriates; specifically, a layman in possession of church property.
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Impropriatrix (?), n.; pl. E. -trixes, L. -trices (�). A female impropriator.
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Impropriety (?), n.; pl. Improprieties (#). [L. improprietas; cf. F. impropriété. See .] 1. The quality of being improper; unfitness or unsuitableness to character, time place, or circumstances; as, impropriety of behavior or manners.
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2. That which is improper; an unsuitable or improper act, or an inaccurate use of language.
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But every language has likewise its improprieties and absurdities. Johnson.
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Many gross improprieties, however authorized by practice, ought to be discarded. Swift.
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Improsperity (?), n. [Cf. F. improspérité.] Lack of prosperity. [Obs.]
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Improsperous (?), a. [Pref. im- not + prosperous: cf. F. improspère, L. improsper.] Not prosperous. [Obs.] Dryden. -- Improsperously, adv. [Obs.] -- Improsperousness, n. [Obs.]
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Improvability (?), n. The state or quality of being improvable; improvableness.
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Improvable (?), a. [From .] 1. Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; capable of cultivation, or of being advanced in good qualities.
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Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his faculties. Sir M. Hale.
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I have a fine spread of improvable lands. Addison.
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2. Capable of being used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous.
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The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better. Sir T. Browne.

-- Improableness, n. -- Improvably, adv.
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Improve (?), v. t. [Pref. im- not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver.] 1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [Obs.]
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Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale.
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2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [Obs.] Chapman.
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When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing. Tyndale.
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Improve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Improved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Improving.] [Pref. in- in + prove, in approve. See , ] 1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. Donne.
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I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. Denham.
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2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means. Shak.
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We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow.
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A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. Addison.
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The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity. Blackstone.
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How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour. I. Watts.
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Those moments were diligently improved. Gibbon.
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True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. Washington.
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3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad. [R.]
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We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors. Bp. Porteus.

Syn. -- To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten; mend; correct; rectify; amend; reform.
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Improve, v. i. 1. To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health.
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We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury.
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2. To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. “Domitian improved in cruelty.” Milner.
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3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves.
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Coloq. To improve on or Coloq. To improve upon , to make useful additions or amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage.
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improved adj. 1. advanced to a more desirable or valuable or excellent state. Opposite of unimproved. [Narrower terms: built, reinforced; cleared, tilled ; developed; grade ; graded, graveled ] Also See: .
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2. changed for the better; as, her improved behavior.
Syn. -- amended.
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Improvement (?), n. 1. The act of improving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc.
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I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South.
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Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair.
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2. The act of making profitable use or applicaton of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse. “A good improvement of his reason.” S. Clarke.
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I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson.
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3. The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved; as, the new edition is an improvement on the old.
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The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are improvements on the Greek poet. Addison.
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4. Increase; growth; progress; advance.
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There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays. Addison.
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Those vices which more particularly receive improvement by prosperity. South.
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5. pl. Valuable additions or betterments, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on land or premises; as, to convey the land together with all improvements.
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6. (Patent Laws) A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition. Kent.
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Improver (?), n. One who, or that which, improves.
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Improvided (?), a. Unforeseen; unexpected; not provided against; unprepared. [Obs.]
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All improvided for dread of death. E. Hall.
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Improvidence (?), n. [L. improvidentia; OF. improvidence. Cf. .] The quality of being improvident; lack of foresight or thrift.
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The improvidence of my neighbor must not make me inhuman. L'Estrange.
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Improvident (?), a. [Pref. im- not + provident: cf. L. improvidus. See , and cf. .] Not provident; wanting foresight or forethought; not foreseeing or providing for the future; negligent; thoughtless; as, an improvident man.
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Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,
This sudden mischief never could have fallen. Shak.

Syn. -- Inconsiderable; negligent; careless; shiftless; prodigal; wasteful.
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Improvidentially (?), adv. Improvidently. [R.]
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Improvidently (?), adv. In a improvident manner. “Improvidently rash.” Drayton.
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Improving (?), a. Tending to improve, beneficial; growing better. -- Improvingly, adv.
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Coloq. Improving lease (Scots Law), an extended lease to induce the tenant to make improvements on the premises.
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Improvisate (?), a. [See .] Unpremeditated; impromptu; extempore. [R.]
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Improvisate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Improvisated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Improvisating (?).] To improvise; to extemporize.
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Improvisation (?), n. [Cf. F. improvisation.] 1. The act or art of composing and rendering music, poetry, and the like, extemporaneously; as, improvisation on the organ.
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2. That which is improvised; an impromptu.
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Improvisatize (?), v. t. & i. Same as .
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Improvisator (?), n. An improviser, or improvvisatore.
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Improvisatore (?), n. See .

{ Improvisatorial (?), Improvisatory (?), } a. Of or pertaining to improvisation or extemporaneous composition.
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Improvisatrice (?), n. See .
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Improvise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Improvised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Improvising.] [F. improviser, it. improvvisare, fr. improvviso unprovided, sudden, extempore, L. improvisus; pref. im- not + provisus foreseen, provided. See .] 1. To compose, recite, or sing extemporaneously, especially in verse; to extemporize; also, to play upon an instrument, or to act, extemporaneously.
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2. To bring about, arrange, do, or make, immediately or on short notice, without previous preparation and with no known precedent as a guide.
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Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.
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3. To invent, or provide, offhand, or on the spur of the moment; as, he improvised a hammer out of a stone.
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Improvise, v. i. To produce or render extemporaneous compositions, especially in verse or in music, without previous preparation; hence, to do anything offhand.
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Improviser (?), n. One who improvises.
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Improvision (?), n. [Pref. im- not + provision.] Improvidence. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Improviso (?), a. [L. improvisus unforeseen; cf. It. improvviso.] Not prepared or mediated beforehand; extemporaneous. [Obs.] Jonhson.
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Improvvisatore (?), n.; pl. Improvvisatori (#). [It. See .] One who composes and sings or recites rhymes and short poems extemporaneously. [Written also improvisatore.]
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Improvvisatrice (?), n.; pl. Improvvisatrici (#). [It. See .] A female improvvisatore. [Written also improvisatrice.]
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Imprudence (?), n. [L. imprudentia: cf. F. imprudence. Cf. .] The quality or state of being imprudent; want to caution, circumspection, or a due regard to consequences; indiscretion; inconsideration; rashness; also, an imprudent act; as, he was guilty of an imprudence.
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His serenity was interrupted, perhaps, by his own imprudence. Mickle.
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Imprudent (?), a. [L. imprudens; pref. im- not + prudens prudent: cf. F. imprudent. See , and cf. .] Not prudent; wanting in prudence or discretion; indiscreet; injudicious; not attentive to consequence; improper. -- Imprudently, adv.
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Her majesty took a great dislike at the imprudent behavior of many of the ministers and readers. Strype.
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