different between unproper vs impropre

English

Etymology

From un- +? proper.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?p??p?/

Adjective

unproper (comparative more unproper, superlative most unproper)

1. (obsolete) Improper, not according with fact or reason; wrong, irregular. [14th-17th c.]
   • c. 1631, John Donne, letter to Sir Henry Goodyere, Works, Letter XC, p. 409:

     Sir, as I said last time, labour to keep your alacrity and dignity, in an even temper: for in a dark sadness, indifferent things seem abominable, or necessary, being neither; as trees, and sheep, to melancholy night-walkers, have unproper shapes.

2. (now rare) Improper, not suited for its use or application; inappropriate. [from 16th c.]
   • 1623, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum, VII.694:

     The pleasure in the act of Venus is the greatest of the pleasures of the senses: the matching of it with itch is unproper; though that also be pleasing to the touch.

   • 2009, "Own Goal for Football", The Times, 10 Oct 09:

     Transparency is paramount. If football’s guardians cannot deliver it they will, rightly, be deemed to be every bit as unfit and unproper to play a role in administering the sport as any secretive investor they may feel motivated to investigate.

3. (obsolete) Not belonging to a given person; someone else's. [17th c.]
   • 1604, William Shakespeare, Othello, IV.1:

     There's Millions now aliue, That nightly lye in those vnproper beds, Which they dare sweare peculiar.

4. (rare) Improper, not according with good standards of behaviour; indecent, indecorous. [from 19th c.]
   • 1962, "Meet me in St. Louis", Time, 27 Apr 1962:

     His equally unproper brother, City Planner Charles W. II, shocked purists in the 19303 by building a flat-topped house in Ipswich.

English

Adjective

impropre (comparative more impropre, superlative most impropre)

1. Obsolete form of improper.
   • 16th Century, The Works of Daniel Waterland, Volume X., page #340:

     Whereunto are required, not only true and faithfull ministers, but especallye, that the bokes of the holye Scripture be well and truely translated and printed also, both to take away all occasions of scismes and heresies, that by reason of impropre translation and false printe many times do rise amonge the simple and ignoraunt people, and also to stoppe the mouthes of the adversarie part, whych upon suche faultes, take a boldnesse to blaspheme and misreport this heavenly doctrine, nowe so plentifully set forth unto us, thorowe your Graces moste prudente and godlye carefulnesse.

Anagrams

• improper

French

Adjective

impropre (plural impropres)

1. inappropriate
2. unsuited (to), unfit (for)

Further reading

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