different between ribald vs improper

English

Alternative forms

• ribauld (rare)

Etymology

From Middle English ribald, from Old French ribaud, ribauld (“rogue, scoundrel”) ( > English ribaud), from Old French riber (“to be licentious”), from Frankish *r?ban (“to copulate, be in heat”, literally “to rub”), from Proto-Germanic *wr?ban? (“to turn, twist, writhe”), from Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist”) + Old French -aud, from Frankish *-wald.

Related to Old High German r?ban (“to rub”), German reiben (“to rub”), Dutch wrijven (“to rub”). Compare also Old High German hr?ba (“prostitute”). See also English wrap.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???b.?ld/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???b.?ld/, /??a?.b?ld/

Adjective

ribald (comparative more ribald, superlative most ribald)

1. Coarsely, vulgarly, or lewdly amusing; referring to sexual matters in a rude or irreverent way.
   • 1693, Thomas Urquhart and Peter Anthony Motteux (Trans.), François Rabelais' Gargantua an Pantagruel, The Third Book, Chapter XXVII:

     [L]et no zealous Christian trust the rogue,—the filthy ribald rascal is a liar.

   • 1875, May 15, Anonymous, "Mr. Carl Schurz and the Democratic Party", Harper's Weekly:

     But when he died the "Reform Democracy" instinctively returned to its vomit of ribald insult.

   • 1888, Ambrose Pierce, "A Fruitless Assignment", Can Such Things Be? (Pub. 1893):

     [T]he curious crowd had collected in the street […] , with here and there a scoffer uttering his incredulity and courage with scornful remarks or ribald cries.

   • 1997 Chuck Eddy, The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music (p.22)

     Anyway up against Reba McEntire, '60s-rock-bred big city escapee K.T. Oslin comes off both more ribald ("Younger Men") and prouder of the bras and bridges she used to burn ("'8s Ladies") in her best country hits.

Translations

Noun

ribald (plural ribalds)

1. An individual who is filthy or vulgar in nature.
   • 1483 [1900 edition], William Caxton (Trans.), Jacobus de Voragine, "Life of S. Paul the first Hermit", The Golden Legend:

     After, he made an harlot, a ribald, come to him alone for to touch his members and his body, to move to lechery.

Related terms

• ribaldry

Translations

References

Further reading

• Ribald in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Anagrams

• bridal, labrid

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