| 释义 |
▪ I. impropriety|ɪmprəʊˈpraɪɪtɪ|
[ad. F. impropriété (Calvin, 1560), or its source L. improprietās, f. impropri-us improper a.: cf. propriety n.]
1. The quality of being improper.
a. Want of accordance with the nature of the thing, or with reason or rule; incorrectness, erroneousness, inaccuracy.
1611Florio, Improprieta, improprietie. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. ii, The plaine truth (as wordes may certifie your eyes, sauing all impropriety of obiect) is that in the Poole are seated three Isles. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. iv. 114 Then which words there can be none plainer, nor more evidently discover the improprietie of this appellation. 1776Adam Smith W.N. iv. ix. (1869) II. 259 The following observations may serve to show the impropriety of this representation. 1843Mill Logic i. ii. §4 We may therefore say, without impropriety, that the quality forms part of its signification.
b. Want of accordance with the purpose in view; unsuitableness, unfitness, inappropriateness.
1697Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) IV. 316 There appeared near 20 of the colledge of physitians to shew the impropriety of the medicine. 1774C. J. Phipps Voy. N. Pole 212 The impropriety of the common process of distillation. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 234 The impropriety of holding a public discussion with such men.
c. Want of accordance with good manners or decorum; unbecomingness, unseemliness, indecency; morally improper conduct.
1751Johnson Rambler No. 174 ⁋13, I was convinced..of the impropriety of my conduct. 1828Scott F.M. Perth ix, The license and impropriety of the Duke of Rothsay's conduct was the more reprehensible in the public view, that he was a married person. 1884Law Times Rep. LI. 247/2 The defendants obtained the property by misconduct, fraud, and impropriety.
2. with an and pl. An instance of improper language, conduct, etc.; a breach of propriety.
a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiv. §66 They had made themselves merry with some improprieties in the French. 1685Stillingfl. Orig. Brit. v. 283 We are not bound to follow any modern Writers in their Improprieties. 1755Johnson Dict. Pref. ⁋6 Every language has likewise its improprieties and absurdities, which it is the duty of the lexicographer to correct or proscribe. 1831Carlyle in Froude Life (1882) II. 229 How often do we find a conduct defaced by many a moral impropriety! 1888J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 185 Guilty of some terrible impropriety.
▪ II. [impropriety2
in Strype, by a misreading of impropriate, app. after propriety = property.
1721Strype Eccl. Mem. III. xxxiv. 268 Rectories, parsonages, benefices, improprieties, glebe-lands, tithes. (The original document has ‘Beneficis impropryate’: see impropriate ppl. a. 2, quot. 1555.) ] |