v. t. To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth; specific features which are worse than former features; disimprovements in the new Windows operating system. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. The state or quality of being improvable; improvableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Improve. ] 1. Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; capable of cultivation, or of being advanced in good qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his faculties. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have a fine spread of improvable lands. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous. [ 1913 Webster ]

The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better. Sir T. Browne.

-- Im*pro"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prov"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Improved p. pr. & vb. n. Improving. ] [ Pref. in- in + prove, in approve. See Approve, Prove. ] 1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those moments were diligently improved. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. im- not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver. ] 1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. “Domitian improved in cruelty.” Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves. [ 1913 Webster ]

To improve on or
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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: restored. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. changed for the better; as, her improved behavior.
Syn. -- amended. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved; as, the new edition is an improvement on the old. [ 1913 Webster ]

The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are improvements on the Greek poet. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Increase; growth; progress; advance. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those vices which more particularly receive improvement by prosperity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Patent Laws) A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, improves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unforeseen; unexpected; not provided against; unprepared. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All improvided for dread of death. E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. improvidentia; OF. improvidence. Cf. Imprudence. ] The quality of being improvident; lack of foresight or thrift. [ 1913 Webster ]

The improvidence of my neighbor must not make me inhuman. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. im- not + provident: cf. L. improvidus. See Provident, and cf. Imprudent. ] Not provident; wanting foresight or forethought; not foreseeing or providing for the future; negligent; thoughtless; as, an improvident man. [ 1913 Webster ]

Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,
This sudden mischief never could have fallen. Shak.

Syn. -- Inconsiderable; negligent; careless; shiftless; prodigal; wasteful. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Improvidently. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a improvident manner. “Improvidently rash.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to improve, beneficial; growing better. -- Im*prov"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Improving lease (Scots Law), an extended lease to induce the tenant to make improvements on the premises. [1913 Webster]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Improvisated p. pr. & vb. n. Improvisating ] To improvise; to extemporize. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Improvise. ] Unpremeditated; impromptu; extempore. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. improvisation. ] 1. The act or art of composing and rendering music, poetry, and the like, extemporaneously; as, improvisation on the organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is improvised; an impromptu. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. Same as Improvisate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An improviser, or improvvisatore. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. See Improvvisatore.

{ } a. Of or pertaining to improvisation or extemporaneous composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. See Improvvisatrice. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 Proviso. ] 1. To compose, recite, or sing extemporaneously, especially in verse; to extemporize; also, to play upon an instrument, or to act, extemporaneously. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To bring about, arrange, do, or make, immediately or on short notice, without previous preparation and with no known precedent as a guide. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To invent, or provide, offhand, or on the spur of the moment; as, he improvised a hammer out of a stone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To produce or render extemporaneous compositions, especially in verse or in music, without previous preparation; hence, to do anything offhand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who improvises. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. im- not + provision. ] Improvidence. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. improvisus unforeseen; cf. It. improvviso. ] Not prepared or mediated beforehand; extemporaneous. [ Obs. ] Jonhson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Improvvisatori [ It. See Improvise. ] One who composes and sings or recites rhymes and short poems extemporaneously. [ Written also improvisatore. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Improvvisatrici [ It. See Improvise. ] A female improvvisatore. [ Written also improvisatrice. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To use for a bad purpose; to abuse; to misuse; as, to misimprove time, talents, advantages, etc. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Ill use or employment; use for a bad purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not improved; not made better or wiser; not advanced in knowledge, manners, or excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not used; not employed; especially, not used or employed for a valuable purpose; as, unimproved opportunities; unimproved blessings. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not tilled, cultivated, or built upon; yielding no revenue; as, unimproved land or soil. [ 1913 Webster ]

See high.
See honorable.
See hopeful.
See hostile.
See hurt.
See hhurtful.
See hygienic.
See ideal.
See idle.
See illusory.
See imaginable.
See imaginative.
See immortal.
See implicit.
See important.
See impressible. See >Unimpressible.
See impressionable.
See improvable.
See impugnable.
See incidental.
See increasable.
See indifferent.
See indulgent.
See industrious.
See inflammable.
See influential.
See ingenious.
See ingenuous.
See inhabitable.
See injurious.
See inquisitive.
See instructive.
See intelligent.
See intelligible.
See intentional.
See interesting.
See interpretable.
See inventive.
See investigable.
See jealous.
See joyful.
See joyous.
See justifiable.
See kingly.
See knightly.
See knotty.
See knowable.
See laborious.
See ladylike.
See level.
See libidinous.
See lightsome.
See limber.
See lineal.
See logical.
See lordly.
See losable.
See lovable.
See lucent.
See luminous.
See lustrous.
See lusty.
See maidenly.
See makable.
See malleable.
See manageable.
See manful.
See manlike.
See manly.
See marketable.
See marriable.
See marriageable.
See marvelous.
See masculine.
See matchable.
See matronlike.
See meek.
See meet.
See melodious.
See mendable.
See mentionable.
See mercenary.
See merciable.
See meritable.
See merry.
See metaphorical.
See mighty.
See mild.
See military.
See mindful.
See mingleable.
See miraculous.
See miry.
See mitigable.
See modifiable.
See modish.
See moist.
See monkish.
See motherly.
See muscular.
See musical.
See mysterious.
See namable.
See native.
See navigable.
See needful.
See negotiable.
See niggard.
See noble.
See objectionable.
[ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]