different between improper vs noxious

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

English

Alternative forms

• noctious (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin noxius (“hurtful, injurious”), from noxa (“hurt, injury”), from nocere (“to hurt, injure”); see nocent.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?k??s/

Adjective

noxious (comparative more noxious, superlative most noxious)

1. Harmful; injurious.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "noxious" is often applied: substance, chemical, fume, gas, odor, plant, weed, animal, stimulus, stimulation.

Synonyms

• harmful
• injurious
• scathel
• see also Thesaurus:harmful

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• noxious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• noxious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• noxious at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “noxious”, in Online Etymology Dictionary