Sunday, April 15, 2007

Sermon On The Blog: Nothing Improper?


im·prop·er /ɪmˈprɒpər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[im-prop-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1. not proper; not strictly belonging, applicable, correct, etc.; erroneous: He drew improper conclusions from the scant evidence.
2. not in accordance with propriety of behavior, manners, etc.: improper conduct at a funeral.
3. unsuitable or inappropriate, as for the purpose or occasion: improper attire for a formal dance.
4. abnormal or irregular: improper functioning of the speech mechanism.
[Origin: 1535–45; < L improprius. See im-2, proper]

—Related forms
im·prop·er·ly, adverb
im·prop·er·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1–3. inapplicable, unsuited, unfit. 2. indecorous. Improper, indecent, unbecoming, unseemly are applied to that which is unfitting or not in accordance with propriety. Improper has a wide range, being applied to whatever is not suitable or fitting, and often specifically to what does not conform to the standards of conventional morality: improper diet; improper behavior in church; improper language. Indecent, a strong word, is applied to what is offensively contrary to standards of propriety and esp. of modesty: indecent behavior, literature. Unbecoming is applied to what is esp. unfitting in the person concerned: conduct unbecoming a minister. Unseemly is applied to whatever is unfitting or improper under the circumstances: unseemly mirth.
—Antonyms 1, 3. fitting, suitable. 2. proper.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source
im·prop·er (ĭm-prŏp'ər) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. Not suited to circumstances or needs; unsuitable: improper shoes for a hike; improper medical treatment.
2. Not in keeping with conventional mores; indecorous: improper behavior.
3. Not consistent with established truth, fact, or rule; incorrect.
4. Irregular or abnormal.


im·prop'er·ly adv., im·prop'er·ness n.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper. Improper often refers to unethical conduct, a breach of etiquette, or morally offensive behavior: improper business practices; improper behavior at the dinner table.
Unbecoming suggests what is beneath the standard implied by one's character or position: language unbecoming to an officer.
What is unseemly or indelicate is in gross violation of good taste; indelicate especially suggests immodesty, coarseness, or tactlessness: an unseemly use of profanity; an indelicate suggestion.
Indecent refers to what is morally offensive or harmful: an earthy but not indecent story.
Indecorous implies violation of societal manners: an indecorous remark about overeating.


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source
improper
1531 (implied in improperly) "not true," from Fr. impropre (14c.), from L. improprius, from in "not" + proprius (see proper). Meaning "not suited, unfit" is from 1570; that of "not in accordance with good manners, modesty, decency" is from 1739.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source
improper

adjective
1. not suitable or right or appropriate; "slightly improper to dine alone with a married man"; "improper medication"; "improper attire for the golf course" [ant: proper]
2. not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention; "an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"
3. not appropriate for a purpose or occasion; "said all the wrong things"

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source
improper [imˈpropə] adjective
(of behaviour etc) not acceptable; indecent; wrong
Example: improper suggestions
Arabic: غَيْر لائِق، غير ملائِم
Chinese (Simplified): 不适当的,不合适的
Chinese (Traditional): 不適當的,不合適的
Czech: nevhodný, neslušný
Danish: upassende
Dutch: ongepast, onfatsoenlijk
Estonian: sündsusetu
Finnish: sopimaton
French: déplacé, indécent
German: unpassend
Greek: απρεπής
Hungarian: helytelen
Icelandic: óviðeigandi; dónalegur
Indonesian: tidak semestinya, tidak pantas, salah
Italian: improprio, inadatto

Japanese: 適当でない
Korean: 그릇된, 버릇없는
Latvian: nepiedienīgs; nepieklājīgs; nepiemērots
Lithuanian: netinkamas, neprideramas
Norwegian: upassende, usømmelig; gal
Polish: niestosowny, nieprzyzwoity
Portuguese (Brazil): inadequado, inconveniente
Portuguese (Portugal): indecente
Romanian: deplasat, indecent
Russian: неуместный
Slovak: nevhodný, neslušný
Slovenian: neprimeren
Spanish: indecente, indecoroso; indebido
Swedish: opassande, oanständig
Turkish: uygunsuz
See also: improper fraction

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source

Main Entry: im·prop·er
Function: adjective
: not proper: as a : not in accord with correct procedure b : WRONGFUL; specifically : in violation of a constitution —im·prop·er·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Thus Endeth Today's Sermon.

Go forth today and consider the carefully chosen words in US Attorney General Aberto Gonzales' Washington Post op ed title.

And note that the words "I am not a crook" have already been uttered in the same vein.

Just think about it.

"I mean it, damn it!"




Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19--

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