Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PROVE', v.i. [improov'.]

1. To grow better or wiser; to advance in goodness, knowledge, wisdom or other excellence. We are pleased to see our children improve in knowledge and virtue. A farm improves under judicious management. The artisan improves by experience. It is the duty, as it is the desire of a good man, to improve in grace and piety. We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury.
2. To advance in bad qualities; to grow worse. Domitian improved in cruelty toward the end of his reign. Milner. [I regret to see this word thus used, or rather perverted.]
3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise. The price of cotton improves, or is improved. [A mercantile and modern use of the word.] To improve on, to make useful additions or amendments to; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage usually practiced.