| 释义 |
improvementn. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: French emprouvement ; improve v.2, -ment suffix. Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman emprouement, emprouvement, emprowement, empruement, enprouement, enprowement, enpruement management or use of something for financial gain (c1285 or earlier), increase of income, profit (c1285 or earlier, chiefly in plural), enclosure and cultivation of waste land (end of the 13th cent. or earlier), piece of land made more profitable by enclosure, cultivation, etc. (c1320 or earlier; < emprouer , emprower , enprouer improve v.2 + -ment -ment suffix), and partly (ii, in later use) < improve v.2 + -ment suffix. Compare slightly later improve v.2, and also approvement n.2With the formal variation of the prefix, compare discussion at improve v.2 †1. society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > profit > [noun] > other types of profit ?1449 Petition in (1767–77) V. 158/1 That the Tresorer of Englond for the tyme beynge, have the free disposicion and enprowment, for the Kynges availe, of all suche Wardes and Mariages, &c. as he hedde byfore the first day of thys present Parlement. 1453–4 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Mar. 1453 §69. m. 3 The aunage of cloth withinne this realm, may be committed to ferme or in emprowement. 1523 J. Fitzherbert viii. f. ix As they [sc. rynning waters] be stored with fysshe, so dothe ye profyte ryse to the lordes, wheder they go by way of improuement or set to ferme: wherof the bayly shall make accompte. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Irelande i. 6/2 in I The reuenues of that Erledom..amounte vnto the summe of xxxj. thousande markes yearely..so that if thinges were well looked vnto, and suche enprouemente [1587 improuement] made as mighte be, Irelande would suffice to beare the necessarie charges. 1626 13 Aug. (single sheet) Wee might retrench all vndue or vnnecessary Charges, issuing out of Our Reuenue, or Coffers, and how to aduance and improoue such parts thereof, as might admitte of an improouement. society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > [noun] 1478 J. Paston in (2004) I. 611 Mastyr Yotton had..desyred me..to se th' enprowment of syche profytes as ar growing of hys chapell in Caster that ye gaue hym. a1500 (Sloane) (1890) 42 (MED) The xiiij chapitur tellithe what enpproumentes ye shall haue off your gesse and hennes. 1580 J. Stow 1183 He..surrendered to them a lease with the improuement of xiiij. pound viij. shillings yearely for xvij. yeares. a1631 R. Cotton in J. Howell (1651) 179 These..will one with the other be advanced to a treble rent, which amounting to 96000. l. leaving an annual improvement of 64000. 1694 in 7 That profits and improvements can be made from the Business or Credit of the Bank, will be also divided among the Proprietors. 1770 Public Ledger 19 Sept. in (1771) 2 355 One of Mr. Greenville's penetration..would have considered not only the visible profits of a Company, but likewise the improvements or hidden treasures that might afterwards be brought to light. 1825 F. Corbaux 49 The latter capital is found to result from the accumulation and half-yearly improvement of an annual sum of £543.246. society > trade and finance > financial dealings > types of money-dealing > [noun] > investment 1549 R. L. sig. B.iiii Improuement alone maketh no man ryche, but improuement and sparynge. 1579 T. F. ix. sig. D.iii A better Improouement can there not be made: then by altring of money which is transitory: into land which is permanent. 1606 S. Gardiner xiii. 107 So dooth the Parable of the talents, those that had them in bank were rewarded more or lesse according to the improouement they made of them. 1655 T. Stanley I. iii. 3 His Father.., left him..four-score minæ, which being entrusted with a friend for improvement, they miscarried. 1702 L. Echard ii. iii. 171 One who had made such good Emprovement of his small Portion of Grace. 1780 J. Brown 3 202 In case he had been of a trade..wherein he might occasionally have laid out his money for improvement. 1787 J. Charlesworth 42 A regular Method of calling over our Accounts, and examining what good Use we have made of our Time, and what Improvement of the Talents intrusted to us. 1839 11 May 303 Nothing more..need be said to excite you to a diligent improvement of your talents, and to an untiring, faithful discharge of the duties which you owe to yourselves, to your fellow-men, and to God. 1844 E. Baylis p. xxvi What is the present worth of a perpetual annuity of £200,..allowing interest to the purchaser at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum for the improvement of his money? 2. the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > land suitable for cultivation > [noun] > reclaimed or improved land the mind > possession > possessions > [noun] > real or immovable property > land > a piece of land > piece of improved land 1473 in (1909) 9 280 (MED) I fynd..two faldys benethe the mere syke..a noder improvment nere the gate of Toathmain..the which two faldys and improwement I awarde..to be layde downe for evermore. 1618 J. Selden xi. 329 If the woods were assarted or improued by culture, the Abbey should haue Tithe in kind of the improuements. 1640 in (1857) 43 If they remove, to sell nothing butt improvements. 1696 J. Ovington 505 The Governour of the Cape..labours much in Improvements and Accommodations for the Inhabitants and Sea-men. 1724 in (1901) XVI. 393 Lands Adjoyneing with the fenceing buildings Orchard and Improvements there on. 1776 R. Twiss 66 The gardens (termed improvements in Ireland, and policies in Scotland) are not extensive. 1784 A. Wight III: Pt. i. 56 I foresaw that We should be in distress for want of hay to feed horses till it was produced from our own improvements. 1817 J. Bradbury 291 To purchase from the Backwoodsman what he calls his improvement... The improvement consists in a log house, a peach, and perhaps an apple orchard, together with from ten to thirty or forty acres of land, inclosed, and partially cleared. 1841 W. Deans Let. 25 Mar. in J. Deans (1937) 33 Mr. Molesworth let a town acre of his for £240..for 14 years, buildings and improvements to remain at the end of the lease. 1878 J. H. Beadle ii. 43 Neither did any man own his land in the Cherokee Nation; it was common, an' we owned jist the improvements. 1925 J. A. Collum 55 The most carefully erected improvements will not improve the quality of the land. 1981 N. Crawford 245 They could not be expected to improve their runs if the land and improvements were in danger of being freeholded without warning by an outside buyer. 2006 (Nexis) 9 Oct. 23 The Township assessed the roll-back taxes based on the change in use that occurred when the school built improvements on five acres. the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > reclamation > [noun] the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > reclamation > [noun] > improving by building 1549–50 Act 3 & 4 Edw. VI f. ivv, in (title) An acte concernyng the emprouementes of Commons and Wast groundes. 1610 W. Folkingham To Rdr. sig. A3 The iust and iudicious Feudigrapher (who aymes at competent Improuements sans pressure of the Feudatarie, or oppressure of the Fermor). 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 207 The Improuement of the Ground, is the most Naturall Obtaining of Riches;..But it is slow. 1677 A. Yarranton 115 In these delightful Countries, there is no waste Lands, but all under improvement. 1767 A. Young 250 All improvement ceases to be such when more money is spent in it than the advantages will repay. 1788 W. Marshall II. xxiii. 285 The principle of improvement was to extend the cultivated country into the Morelands. 1888 J. Inglis 301 The ‘grants’ were held under certain conditions of improvement clearly laid down and defined in the Waste Land Regulations. 1891 R. Wallace xv. 225 A perpetual leasehold..leaves a settler free to invest his capital in improvements. 1934 ‘S. Rudd’ 65 The Crown Lands ranger has been along taking stock of your improvements, and giving you advice on the making of farms and farmers. 1958 6 Sept. 37 My brother and I, aged eight and six, accompanied my father when he went out to make the first ‘improvements’. 2013 (Nexis) 14 Sept. 8 The land would be converted from a sheep, cattle and deer station to dairy support, and the applicant was to commit ‘significant funds to the development/ improvement of the land’. 3. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > hire or rent > rent (land or real property) > [noun] > higher or extra > increase in rent 1549 Instruccions to Commyssyoners in f. 317 These greate fines for landes and emprowment of rentes shall abate. 1620 28 July (single sheet) They doe let all Estates..be it for Fine or improuement of Rent, by Indenture onely. 1737 J. Read 132 The Archbishops, &c. are impowered to receive those ancient leases, and to make out new ones, with an improvement of rent for sixty years. 1790 May 392/1 He [sc. a clergyman] has as much right to an improvement of his living, if the lands improve, as the landlord has to an increased rent. 1818 Mar. 208/1 They should receive six parts out of thirty, which shall from time to time be made by any improvement of rents, &c. over and above the said 30l. 1996 A. McRae 174 Subsequently, as signalled in the full title of the book, this perception incorporates a concern for the ‘improvement’ of rents, issues, revenues and profits. the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] 1607 tr. P. Sarpi sig. F2 To supply and make vp by an intensiue way of improuement within those few regions that remaine, all that was so lost in extent and territory abroad. 1646 Sir T. Browne iii. xvii. 149 The multiplication of Hares, which is by superfetation..or an improvement of a second fruit before the first be excluded. View more context for this quotation 1674 A. Cremer tr. J. Scheffer 34 A further cause of the little improvement of Christianity, is the vastness of the Country. 1727 P. Longueville 202 He goes and examines, the Improvment of his new Plantation, where he found his Roots grown full as large as any of those that grew wild. 1772 J. Priestley I. 21 The earth itself is in a state of improvement. 1788 V. Knox I. ii. xv. 212 Not entirely intelligible to children under twelve or fourteen, unless in rare cases of premature improvement and sagacity. a1802 E. Darwin (1803) iv. 166 The quantity or number of organized bodies, and their improvement in size,..has been continually increasing. the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [noun] > making or becoming a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in (1620) II. 70 This was nothing but an addition to his vexation, and an improuement of his griefe. 1640 W. Ince 141 You see then, how one sinne ushers an other... Such is the fruitfulnesse and improvement of sin! 1663 F. Philipps 93 Traiterous and sacrilegious purchases out of the improvements of the Common misery, and washing as well as wasting three Kingdomes over in blood. 1705 G. Ridpath ii. 24 The Court made their usual Improvement of this unhappy Business towards farther enslaving the Country. the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > state of or advanced condition 1626 Bp. J. Hall 39 Since death therefore is the vtmost of all terribles, needes must it bee the highest improuement of Saluation, that to our God belong the issues from death. 1659 J. Gauden 185 The great want of it [sc. Primitive Episcopacy] in England shews the great use, necessity and excellency of it, especially if advanced to its greatest improvement of counsel, order and authority. 1694 R. South II. 59 Friendship is the Noblest and most Refined Improvement of Love. a1716 R. South (1744) IX. 105 A sin against this is the highest pitch, the utmost improvement, and..the ne plus ultra of provocation. the world > existence and causation > creation > [noun] > production > product > produce, yield, or return 1706 G. Stanhope III. 29 The greatest part of the Wealth and Improvement there consisted in Sheep. 1719 D. Defoe 332 The Improvement, or Annual Production, being distributed to charitable Uses. 4. society > education > teaching > instilling ideas > [noun] > edification > application to 1603 S. Daniel sig. A5 Thou shalt see the estimation base Of that which most aflicts our misery: Without the which, else couldst thou neuer see Our wayes laide right... By which improouement we shall gaine much more [etc.]. 1618 R. Harris Ep. Ded. sig. A2 The time will be better spent, if..I call vpon your Ladiship, and my selfe, for some improuement of this crosse [sc. the death of her husband]. 1677 I. Mather (1864) 268 That is the special Improvement which should be made of what hath been discoursed. 1705 G. Stanhope II. 4 The Improvement I design to make of this passage. a1732 T. Boston (1773) III. 612 The right and necessary improvement of a time of bodily sickness and mortality, is to become wise for our souls. 1799 F. Asbury 7 Nov. (1821) II. 432 Jesse Lee preached the funeral sermon; after which I made an improvement upon Joseph's prophecy, Gen. xl, 24. 1817 J. Mill II. v. iv. 447 Such is the doctrine; the practical improvement is obvious. 1842 R. M. M'Cheyne in (1872) 269 Seek a right improvement of this bereavement. 1911 M. R. James 250 Humphreys thought..that the writer's ‘improvement’ of his Parable might be left to itself. 2003 G. M. Marsden ix. 157 In his ‘improvement’, or application of the sermon, Edwards emphasized the egalitarian implications. the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > turning to account ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer vi. 484 To lead in fight, and give no danger pass Without improvement. 1643 in S. Lincoln (1827) 53 To go to the next court to make the best improvement of the evidence the town have for the property of Nantascot. 1677 W. Hubbard ii. 10 What benefit and Improvement was ever made thereof [sc. of Gorges's Patent for Maine] by his Agents, or Successours. 1703 II. 304/1 You seem to be desirous to make a good Improvement of your Time. 1786 I. 6 Those resources might, perhaps, be still farther augmented by a wise improvement of the opportunity that seemed to be afforded by a general peace. 1833 L. Woods tr. G. C. Knapp II. 365 God designs..that our happiness hereafter depends upon our good improvement of the time now allotted us. 1846 250/2 The neglect of improvement of an hour of time is as decidedly a crime, as the wasting of money or property. 1907 4 Sept. 4/2 The whole address was a use, not an improvement of the occasion. 1918 Mar. 95 It is hard for children to recognize that the improvement of an opportunity is gain to themselves. the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [noun] 1620 Bp. J. Hall V. N.T. ii. 443 There cannot be a better improuement of society, then to helpe vs againe, to releeue vs in our profitable labours. a1716 R. South (1717) V. 13 The Corruption of mens manners, by the habitual improvement of this Vicious Principle [sc. concupiscence]. 1754 J. Edwards ii. xi. 115 The good or bad State of the moral World depends on the Improvement they make of their natural Agency. society > occupation and work > [noun] society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > [noun] > condition of being inhabited 1670 in N. B. Shurtleff (1856) V. 45 The said Cowin, during the time of his improuement of the said land, shall not make hauocke or destroy the timber theron. 1699 in S. A. Bates (1886) 41 Benjamin Webb should have ye improvement of ye old School House untill the next publiqe Town meeting. 1705 S. Sewall 6 June 312 I have a good right to a third part of the said meadow, and am in the actual improvement of it. 1736 in (1850) IV. 112 As to the rest and residue of my Estate..I give the Improvement benefit and Income thereof to my Dear Wife. 1763 in (1896) 357 A pice of common mrshland..now improved by Deacon Whittemore Shall Remain in his Improvement untell the propriators Shall order otherwise. 1895 S. Perley 513 Where the wife is given the use and improvement of an estate during her widowhood, and there is a bequest over. 1703 S. Sewall 22 Apr. (1886) I. 282 Very few gray hairs are to be found in the Colony, in civil or sacred improvement. 1794 E. Stiles vi. 345 He..had been in civil improvement, a member of assembly and judge of the court. 1846 680/1 The appeal is then entered, and then the manufacture of testimony, the improvement of witnesses, goes on from that day until the trial. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > humanistic studies > [noun] > cultivation of the mind > instance of the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > humanistic studies > [noun] > polite learning, culture a1619 J. Wats (1621) Ep. Ded. sig. A3 I am conscious to my selfe of my inability to answer the opinion your loue long since hath conceiued of some faculty in me for improuements of a Scholler. 1649 B. Gerbier (new ed.) 4 All such Fathers of Families as mind the improvement of their Sonnes, will..preferre the placing of their Sonnes in this Academy, to their Travelling abroad. 1660 2 He..thinks himself a Sophy before he arrives to a Sophister. This fond conceit of his improvement, makes him like a carelesse Child, forsake the Lap of his Mother. 1711 R. Steele No. 41. ¶2 I am a mere Man of the Town, and have very little Improvement, but what I have got from Plays. 1766 (new ed.) 36 He promiseth to send in his next Letter a Copy of the School Register, with the Ages of the Children, and their Improvements. 1773 4 Mar. 309/2 It is then pointed out, by what means and what degrees he rose in improvement, and became rational and political. 6. Now the usual sense. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [noun] 1625 S. Purchas II. Table of Contents sig. a2/1 Of the improuement of Nauigation in later Times. 1627 R. Sanderson 318 That he might thereby encourage vs, so to labour the improuement of those good things in vs, as to make our selues capable of greater rewards. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. J. Albert de Mandelslo 284 in The quiet of the City, the wellfare of its Inhabitants, and the improvement of Trade. 1702 I. i. 9 For the improvement of his Education, and giving an ornament to his hopefull Person. 1783 H. Blair I. ii. 19 Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. 1812 May 864 There is great room for improvement in our management of this noble animal. 1859 J. S. Mill 128 We are eager for improvement in politics, education, even in morals. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato (ed. 2) V. 96 A good education tends to the improvement of body and mind. 1927 F. M. Thrasher iii. xviii. 361 (caption) The group has shown great improvement..under the direction of capable and sympathetic leaders. 1956 W. R. Russell (ed. 2) Introd. i. 9 The gradual improvement..may be due simply to hypertrophy of non-paralysed muscle. 2000 Mar. 65/2 The awkward ignition system of hand cannons cried out for improvement. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [noun] > instance of a1631 J. Donne (1640) lxxii. 726 There is no new state promised them,..but there is an emprovement, a bettering, a reformation. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil 53 Long Practice has a sure Improvement found, With kindled Fires to burn the barren Ground. View more context for this quotation 1720 C. Mills et al. Let. 23 Feb. in I. Newton (1977) VII. 86 A great detriment, wch by Building a Brick party wall & new building the Chimneys may be prevented & no damage done, but rather an Improvement to the said House. 1774 C. J. Phipps 11 With the new chain-pumps..according to Captain Bentinck's improvements. 1796 (new ed.) xxi. 330 It is a great improvement to add the juice of two Seville oranges. 1812 W. H. Wollaston in (Royal Soc.) 102 370 An improvement in the construction of the simple microscope. 1888 J. Inglis 264 If the tan is occasionally rubbed into the pores of the skin it will be an improvement. 1915 45 453 This is a great improvement as regards colouring on the Photo-Relief Model War Map previously published. 1967 113 819/1 The somatic therapies..and psychotropic drugs..are in the main responsible for this improvement in therapeutic results. 2000 50 229/2 Multidisciplinary workshops..were arranged to present the results and encourage practices to share ways of making improvements. the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [noun] > instance of 1675 S. Smith 140 They Spiritualize all the dross of the Creature, they make a Divine improvement on that very indifferent Comfort, which Satan would Convert into a Snare. 1712 J. Addison No. 273 (ed. 2) iv The Parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, which are beautiful Improvements on the Greek Poet. 1763 J. Mills IV. 217 The third method [of whip-grafting]..is an improvement of the last. 1815 D. Stewart in Suppl. I. 5 (note) The latitude given by D'Alembert to the meaning of the word Poetry is a real and very important improvement on Bacon, who restricts it to fictitious History or Fables. 1859 77 An improvement over the other sections then used. 1878 C. H. Spurgeon V. Ps. cvi. 7 We fear the sons are no great improvement upon the sires. 1929 H. W. Shimer ii. 14 The only improvement upon the ocean, as a life-supporting medium, is the circulating fluid of the warm-blooded animal. 1951 A. Grollman xx. 416 Atoxyl..was the first drug used successfully in trypanosomiasis. Tryparsamide..was an improvement. 2000 Sept. 34/1 This is in fact an improvement on her existing British, European and World Record. Compounds1819 1st Rep. Commissioners Charities Eng. 353 in (H.C. 83) X-A. 1 For paving, watching, lighting, and cleansing, improvement rate, and water rent. 1840 W. Sewall 15 Aug. (1930) 218/1 Henry and myself repairing fence west side of improvement ditch. 1898 Oct. 657 The banks and the State were inseparably linked together, and the gigantic improvement scheme involved both alike in ruin. 1909 30 Apr. 6/4 The improvement values added by enterprise. 1956 C. Kaysen v. 175 Clearly improvement efforts are concentrated on the important machines. 1972 15 June 14 Improvement grants..are overwhelmingly taken up by better-off owner-occupiers and speculative property developers. 1986 A. Ravetz iv. 93 New powers included the declaration of (industrial) Improvement Areas. 2003 H. J. Newbury p. xiii Most of the traits that are the subject of improvement programmes are quantitative in nature. C2. society > trade and finance > buying > hiring or renting > [noun] > taking on rent or lease > lease > types of land lease 1825 169 Improvement leases may be granted. 1895 no. 18 §26 (heading) Improvement leases. 1910 7 Apr. 14/3 The Hay (N.S.W.) Land Board recently wrestled with some Improvement Leases totalling 31,000 acres. 1930 30 May 6/5 The resolution provided that tenders should be advertised for an improvement lease. 2011 (Nexis) 18 Dec. BHI leased the improved property after construction back to GBMC for twenty-six years with seven five year options under an Improvement Lease. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.?1449 |
