Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PROVE', v.t. [improov'; Norm. prover, to improve; improwment, improving. The French and Italians use the same compound in a different sense. It is from the Latin in and probo, to prove, or the adjective probus.]

1. To make better; to advance in value or good qualities. We amend a bad, but improve a good thing. A good education improves the mind and the manners. A judicious rotation of crops tends to improve land. Johnson.
2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to use for advantage; to employ for advancing interest, reputation or happiness. Many opportunities occur of improving money, which, if a men misses, he may not afterwards recover. Rambler. Melissus was a man of parts, capable of enjoying and improving life. Ibm. True policy as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. Washington. This success was not improved. Marshall. Those who enjoy the advantage of better instruction, should improve their privileges. Milner. We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow. They were aware of the advantages of their position, and improved them with equal skill and diligence. Walsh, Rev. of Hamilton's Works. Those moments were diligently improved. Gibbon. The candidate improved his advantages. Gibbon. A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. Addison, Spect. iii. Whatever interest we have at the throne of grace, should be improved in behalf of others. Scott, Com. Ex. xxxiii. The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity. Blackstone. My lords, no time should be lost, which may promise to improve this disposition in America. Lord Chatham. If we neglect to improve our knowledge to the ends for which it was given. Locke. It is the fault of persons not improving that light. S. Clarke. The shorter the time – the more eager were they to improve it. Lardner. A young minister wishing to improve the occasion. C. Simeon.
3. To apply to practical purposes; as, to improve a discourse, or the doctrines stated and proved in a sermon. Owen.
4. To advance or increase by use; in a bad sense. I fear we have not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors. [Ill.] Porteus.
5. To use; to employ; as, to improve a witness or a deposition. Let even the coach, the inns, or the ships, be improved as openings for useful instruction. T. Scott.
6. To use; to occupy; to cultivate. The house or the farm is now improved by an industrious tenant. This application is perhaps peculiar to some parts of the United States. It however deviates little from that in some of the foregoing definitions.