Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PRIS'ON-ER, n.

One who imprisons another. Clayros.

IM-PRIS'ON-ING, n.

Act of confining in prison.

IM-PRIS'ON-ING, ppr.

Shutting up in prison; confiniag in a place.

IM-PRIS'ON-MENT, n.

1. The act of putting and confining in prison; the act of arresting and detaining in custody.
2. Confinement in a place; restraint of liverty to go from place to place at pleasure. Appropriately, the confinement of a criminal or debtor within the walls of a pose, or in the custody of a sherif, &c. False imprisonment is any confinement of the person, or restraint of liberty, without legal or sufficient authority. The arrest or detention of the person by an officer without warrant, or by an illegal warrant, or by a legal warrant executed at an unlawful time, is false imprisonment. Blackstone.

IM-PROB-A-BIL'I-TY, n. [See Improbable.]

The quality of being improbable, or not likely to be true; unlikelihood.

IM-PROB'A-BLE, a. [Sp. Fr. from L. improbabilis; in and probabilis, from probo, to prove.]

Not likely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances of the case. It is always improbable that men will knowingly oppose their own interest; yet the fact is possible. It is improbable that snow will fall in July, but not incredible.

IM-PROB'A-BLY, adv.

1. In a manner not likely to be true.
2. In a manner not to be approved. [Obs.] Boyle.

IM'PRO-BATE, v.t. [L. improbo.]

To disallow; not to approve. [Not used.] Ainsma.

IM-PRO-BA'TION, n.

The act of disapproving. [Not in use.] Ainsworth.

IM-PROB'I-TY, n. [L. improbilas; in and probitas, flea from probo, to approve.]

That which as disapproved or disallowed; want of integrity or rectitude of principle; dishonesty. A man of known improbity is always suspected, and usually despised.

IM-PRO-DUC'ED, a.

Not produced. [Not in use.] Rex.

IM-PRO-FI'CIEN-CY, n.

Want of proficiency. Bacon.

IM-PROF'IT-A-BLE, a.

Unprofitable. [Not in use.] Elyot.

IM-PRO-GRES'SIVE, a.

Not progressive.

IM-PROMP'TU, adv. [L. in promptu, in readiness, from promptus, ready, quick.]

Off hand; without previous study; as, a verse uttered or written impromptu.

IM-PROMP'TU, n.

A piece made off hand, at the moment, or without previous study; an extemporaneous composition.

IM-PRONA-BLY, adv.

In a manner that admits of improvement.

IM-PROP'ER, a. [L. improprius; in and proprius, prosper.]

1. Not proper; not suitable; not adapted to its end; as, an improper medicine for a particular disease; an improper regulation.
2. Not becoming; not decent; not suited to the character, time or place; as improper conduct in church; improper behavior before superiors; an improper speech.
3. Not according to the settled usages or principles of a language; as, an improper word or phrase.
4. Not suited to a particular place or office; unqualified; as, he is an improper man for the office.

IM-PROP'ER-LY, adv.

1. Not fitly; in a manner not suited to the end; in a manner not suited to the company, time, plea and circumstances; unsuitably; incongruously.
2. In a manner not according with established usage; inaccurately; ungrammatically; as, to speak or write improperly.

IM-PRO-PI'TIOUS, a.

Not propitious; unpropitious. Wotton. [The latter is the word in use.]

IM-PRO-POR'TION-A-BLE, a.

Not proportionable. [Little used.] B. Jenson.

IM-PRO-POR'TION-ATE, a.

Not proportionate; not adjusted. [Little used.] Smith.

IM-PRO'PRI-ATE, a.

Devolved into the hands of a layman.

IM-PRO'PRI-ATE, v.t. [L. in and proprius, proper.]

1. To appropriate to private use; to take to one's self; as, to impropriate thanks to one's self. [Not used.] Bacon.
2. To unsex the possessions of the church or a benefice to a lsyman. Spelman. “The Money-god in Aristophanes pretends a command from Jupiter to distribute as great a largess to the wicked, as to the good; because, if vertue should once impropriate riches, that faire Goddesse would be more wooed for her dowry, than for her native beauty.” Archbishop Sancroft's Modern Policies, edit. 5 Lond. 1654. 12mo.—E. H. B.]

IM-PRO'PRI-A-TED, pp.

1. Appropriated to one's self. [See Appropriated.]
2. Put in possession of a layman.