different between impure vs improper

English

Etymology

From Middle French impur, from Latin impurus

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??(r)

Adjective

impure (comparative more impure, superlative most impure)

1. Not pure
   1. Containing undesired intermixtures

      The impure gemstone was not good enough to be made into a necklace, so it was thrown out.

   2. Unhallowed; defiled by something unholy, either physically by an objectionable substance, or morally by guilt or sin
   3. Unchaste; obscene (not according to or not abiding by some system of sexual morality)

      He was thinking impure thoughts involving a girl from school.

      • 2012, Frederick Ramsay, The Eighth Veil: A Jerusalem Mystery

        “No one would marry her if she was impure, don't you see?” “Impure? Surely if a woman is forcibly deprived of her virginity, she can't be thought of as impure.”

Synonyms

• imperfect, tainted

Antonyms

• pure

Related terms

• impuration
• impurely
• impureness
• impurify
• impurity

Translations

Verb

impure (third-person singular simple present impures, present participle impuring, simple past and past participle impured)

1. (transitive, obsolete) to defile; to pollute

References

• impure in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• impure in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• rumpie, umpire

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.py?/
• Rhymes: -y?

Adjective

impure

1. feminine singular of impur

Italian

Adjective

impure f pl

1. feminine plural of impuro

Latin

Etymology 1

Adverb

imp?r? (comparative imp?rius, superlative imp?rissim?)

1. basely, shamefully, infamously
2. impurely

Etymology 2

Adjective

imp?re

1. vocative masculine singular of imp?rus

References

• impure in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• impure in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• impure in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette

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