*prov*

a. Worthy of being approved; meritorious. -- Ap*prov"a*ble*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. Approbation; sanction. [ 1913 Webster ]

A censor . . . without whose approval n&unr_; capital sentences are to be executed. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Approval. [ Archaic ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Approved p. pr. & vb. n. Approving. ] [ OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve, prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate. ] 1. To show to be real or true; to prove. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wouldst thou approve thy constancy? Approve
First thy obedience. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically. [ 1913 Webster ]

Opportunities to approve . . . worth. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had approved himself a great warrior. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

His account . . . approves him a man of thought. Parkman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the decision of a court-martial. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well of; as, we approve the measured of the administration. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think favorably (of), is often followed by of. [ 1913 Webster ]

They had not approved of the deposition of James. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

They approved of the political institutions. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. aprouer; a (L. ad) + a form apparently derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable, properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve. ] (Eng. Law) To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; -- said esp. of waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to secure approbation; in an approved manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] 1. Approbation. [ 1913 Webster ]

I did nothing without your approvement. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Law) a confession of guilt by a prisoner charged with treason or felony, together with an accusation of his accomplish and a giving evidence against them in order to obtain his own pardon. The term is no longer in use; it corresponded to what is now known as turning king's (or queen's) evidence in England, and state's evidence in the United States. Burrill. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Old Eng. Law) Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them to the uses of husbandry for the advantage of the lord of the manor. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who approves. Formerly, one who made proof or trial. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An informer; an accuser. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eng. Law) One who confesses a crime and accuses another. See 1st Approvement, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 2d Approve, v. t. ] (Eng. Law) A bailiff or steward; an agent. [ Obs. ] Jacobs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile. -- Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. Belonging to, or associated in, the same province. [ Obs. ] -- n. One who belongs to the same province. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The six islands, comprovincial
In ancient times unto Great Britain. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Counterproved p. pr. & vb. n. Counterproving. ] To take a counter proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an impression directly from the face of an original. See Counter proof, under Counter. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To divest of provincial quality or characteristics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disapproved p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving. ] [ Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf. Disapprobation. ] 1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by the commander in chief. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disapproves. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. expressing disapproval. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a disapproving manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow worse; to deteriorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth; specific features which are worse than former features; disimprovements in the new Windows operating system. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. Capable of being disproved or refuted. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of disproving; disproof. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disproved p. pr. & vb. n. Disproving. ] [ Pref. dis- + prove: cf. OF. desprover. ] 1. To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute. [ 1913 Webster ]

That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove it. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disallow; to disapprove of. [ Obs. ] Stirling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who disproves or confutes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. Not to provide; to fail to provide. [ Obs. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not within of pertaining to the same province or jurisdiction. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being improvable; improvableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Improve. ] 1. Capable of being improved; susceptible of improvement; admitting of being made better; capable of cultivation, or of being advanced in good qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man is accommodated with moral principles, improvable by the exercise of his faculties. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have a fine spread of improvable lands. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of being used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous. [ 1913 Webster ]

The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better. Sir T. Browne.

-- Im*pro"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prov"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. im- not + prove: cf. L. improbare, F. improuver. ] 1. To disprove or make void; to refute. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Improved p. pr. & vb. n. Improving. ] [ Pref. in- in + prove, in approve. See Approve, Prove. ] 1. To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those moments were diligently improved. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; -- said with reference to what is bad. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors. Bp. Porteus.

Syn. -- To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten; mend; correct; rectify; amend; reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health. [ 1913 Webster ]

We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse. “Domitian improved in cruelty.” Milner. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves. [ 1913 Webster ]

To improve on or
To improve upon, to make useful additions or amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. advanced to a more desirable or valuable or excellent state. Opposite of unimproved. [ Narrower terms: built, reinforced; cleared, tilled ; developed; grade ; graded, graveled ] Also See: restored. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. changed for the better; as, her improved behavior.
Syn. -- amended. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of improving; advancement or growth; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of making profitable use or applicaton of anything, or the state of being profitably employed; a turning to good account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse. “A good improvement of his reason.” S. Clarke. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being improved; betterment; advance; also, that which is improved; as, the new edition is an improvement on the old. [ 1913 Webster ]

The parts of Sinon, Camilla, and some few others, are improvements on the Greek poet. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Increase; growth; progress; advance. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a design of publishing the history of architecture, with its several improvements and decays. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those vices which more particularly receive improvement by prosperity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. Valuable additions or betterments, as buildings, clearings, drains, fences, etc., on land or premises; as, to convey the land together with all improvements. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Patent Laws) A useful addition to, or modification of, a machine, manufacture, or composition. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, improves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unforeseen; unexpected; not provided against; unprepared. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All improvided for dread of death. E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. improvidentia; OF. improvidence. Cf. Imprudence. ] The quality of being improvident; lack of foresight or thrift. [ 1913 Webster ]

The improvidence of my neighbor must not make me inhuman. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. im- not + provident: cf. L. improvidus. See Provident, and cf. Imprudent. ] Not provident; wanting foresight or forethought; not foreseeing or providing for the future; negligent; thoughtless; as, an improvident man. [ 1913 Webster ]

Improvident soldiers! had your watch been good,
This sudden mischief never could have fallen. Shak.

Syn. -- Inconsiderable; negligent; careless; shiftless; prodigal; wasteful. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Improvidently. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a improvident manner. “Improvidently rash.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to improve, beneficial; growing better. -- Im*prov"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Improving lease (Scots Law), an extended lease to induce the tenant to make improvements on the premises. [1913 Webster]

a. [ See Improvise. ] Unpremeditated; impromptu; extempore. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Improvisated p. pr. & vb. n. Improvisating ] To improvise; to extemporize. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. improvisation. ] 1. The act or art of composing and rendering music, poetry, and the like, extemporaneously; as, improvisation on the organ. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is improvised; an impromptu. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. Same as Improvisate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An improviser, or improvvisatore. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. See Improvvisatore.