Part 91

Im*promp"tu (?), adv. or a. [F. impromptu, fr. L. in promptu in readiness, at hand; in in + promptus visibility, readiness, from promptus visible, ready. See Prompt.] Offhand; without previous study; extemporaneous; extempore; as, an impromptu verse.

Im*promp"tu, n. 1. Something made or done offhand, at the moment, or without previous study; an extemporaneous composition, address, or remark.

2. (Mus.) A piece composed or played at first thought; a composition in the style of an extempore piece.

Im*prop"er (?), a. [F. impropre, L. improprius; pref. im- not + proprius proper. See Proper.] 1. Not proper; not suitable; not fitted to the circumstances, design, or end; unfit; not becoming; incongruous; inappropriate; indecent; as, an improper medicine; improper thought, behavior, language, dress.

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service, Improper for a slave.

Shak.

And to their proper operation still, Ascribe all Good; to their improper, Ill.

Pope.

2. Not peculiar or appropriate to individuals; general; common. [Obs.]

Not to be adorned with any art but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and poetry.

J. Fletcher.

3. Not according to facts; inaccurate; erroneous.

Improper diphthong. See under Diphthong. -- Improper feud, an original feud, not earned by military service. Mozley & W. -- Improper fraction. See under Fraction.

Im*prop"er, v. t. To appropriate; to limit. [Obs.]

He would in like manner improper and inclose the sunbeams to comfort the rich and not the poor.

Jewel.

Im*prop`er*a"tion (?), n. [L. improperare, improperatum, to taunt.] The act of upbraiding or taunting; a reproach; a taunt. [Obs.]

Improperatios and terms of scurrility.

Sir T. Browne

||Im`pro*pe"ri*a (?), n. pl. [L., reproaches.] (Mus.) A series of ||antiphons and responses, expressing the sorrowful remonstrance of our ||Lord with his people; -- sung on the morning of the Good Friday in ||place of the usual daily Mass of the Roman ritual. Grove. || Im*prop"er*ly (?), adv. In an improper manner; not properly; unsuitably; unbecomingly.

Im*prop"er*ty (?), n. Impropriety. [Obs.]

Im`pro*pi"tious (?), a. Unpropitious; unfavorable. [Obs.] "Dreams were impropitious." Sir H. Wotton.

Im`pro*por"tion*a*ble (?), a. Not proportionable. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Im`pro*por"tion*ate (?), a. Not proportionate. [Obs.]

Im*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Impropriated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Impropriating (?).] [Pref. im- in + L. propriatus, p. p. of propriare to appropriate. See Appropriate.] 1. To appropriate to one's self; to assume. [Obs.]

To impropriate the thanks to himself.

Bacon.

2. (Eng. Eccl. Law) To place the profits of (ecclesiastical property) in the hands of a layman for care and disbursement.