different between earthy vs improper

English

Etymology

From Middle English erthy, equivalent to earth +? -y.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???.?i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???i/
• Rhymes: -??(?)?i
• Hyphenation: earthy

Adjective

earthy (comparative earthier, superlative earthiest)

1. Resembling dirt or soil (i.e. earth).

   The earthy smell of fresh turned loam told me the farmer had started plowing this morning, the definitive sign of spring for me.

2. Down-to-earth, not artificial, natural.

   She was an earthy soul, the salt of the earth as they say of such rural folk, untarnished by false civilization.
3. (figuratively) Coarse and unrefined, crude.

   earthy humour

4. Like or resembling the earth or of the earth.
5. Covered with earth (mud, dirt).
   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

     He was wet through with the dew and quite earthy from diving into the burrows the Boy had made for him in the flower bed, and Nana grumbled as she rubbed him off with a corner of her apron.

Synonyms

• terreous (obsolete)

Derived terms

• earthily
• earthiness

Translations

Anagrams

• Hayter, Thayer, aethyr, hearty, yearth

English

Alternative forms

• impropre (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French impropre, from Latin improprius (“not proper”), from in- + proprius (“proper”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?p??p.?/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /?m?p??p.?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?p??.p?/
• Rhymes: -?p?(?)

Adjective

improper (comparative more improper, superlative most improper)

1. unsuitable to needs or circumstances; inappropriate; inapt
2. Not in keeping with conventional mores or good manners; indecent or immodest
3. Not according to facts; inaccurate or erroneous
4. Not consistent with established facts; incorrect
5. Not properly named; See, for example, improper fraction
6. (obsolete) Not specific or appropriate to individuals; general; common.
   • 1608, John Fletcher The Faithful Shepherdess

     Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.

Synonyms

• unproper (obsolete or rare)

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

improper (third-person singular simple present impropers, present participle impropering, simple past and past participle impropered)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To appropriate; to limit.
   • 1565, John Jewel, letter to Thomas Harding

     He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor.

2. (obsolete) To behave improperly

Anagrams

• impropre