different between incapable vs improper

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French incapable, in- +? capable

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ke?p?bl?/, /???ke?p?bl?/
• Hyphenation: in?ca?pable

Adjective

incapable (comparative more incapable, superlative most incapable)

1. Not capable (of doing something); unable.
2. Not in a state to receive; not receptive; not susceptible; not able to admit.

   incapable of pain, or pleasure; incapable of stain or injury

Synonyms

• (not capable): unable
• (not in a state to receive): refusing

Antonyms

• capable

Derived terms

• incapability
• incapably

Related terms

• incapacitate
• incapacitation

Translations

Noun

incapable (plural incapables)

1. (dated) One who is morally or mentally weak or inefficient; an imbecile; a simpleton.

French

Etymology

From Latin incapabilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.ka.pabl/

Adjective

incapable (plural incapables)

1. unable, incapable

Noun

incapable m (plural incapables, feminine incapable)

1. incompetent (person)

Further reading

• “incapable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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