unproperlyadv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈprɒp(ə)li/, U.S. /ˌənˈprɑpərli/Common in the 16th and 17th centuries.
1. Esp. with reference to the use of language: incorrectly, erroneously. Formerly also: †figuratively, loosely; not literally (obsolete). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > inaccuracy, inexactness > incorrectness of language > [adverb]
unproperlya1398
evillya1575
acyrologically1651
viciously1656
badly1672
solecistically1722
impurely1813
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. xxxii. 230 It is vnpropirliche iseide þat oþir beestes hauen backes.
c1425 tr. J. Arderne Treat. Fistula (Sloane 6) (1910) 55 Þai ar called emeroydez, bot neþerlez vnproperly.
c1454 R. Pecock Folewer to Donet 63 (MED) In an oþir maner feiþ is takun vnpropirli for þe trouþ or þe mater or þe þing which is bileuyd bi feiþ propirli takun.
1493 (c1410) Dives & Pauper (Pynson) i. xiii. sig. ciiv/1 They take that dulia. fulle largely, & fulle vnpropirly.
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique 93 Long talke, and small matter, are spoken vnproperly, for we cannot measure either talke or matter by length or breadth.
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. f. 153 Those thinges yt were done in his nature of man, are vnproperly, & yet not without reason, geuen to hys Godhed.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iii. ix. sig. Oo.iiii/1 Iustification is somtimes somewhat vnproperly attributed to workes.
1579 W. Fulke Heskins Parl. Repealed in D. Heskins Ouerthrowne 100 This worde sacrifice, is either taken properly, or vnproperly, and figuratiuely.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage i. viii. 41 A part of the hill Taurus (unproperly ascribed to Caucasus).
1636 M. Walbancke in Ann. Dubrensia sig. A2 You, to whom I may not unpropperly give the denomination of an Hero.
1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. v. 95 They..say..‘Lay a kerf in that piece of Stuff’; and sometimes, (but most unproperly,) ‘Cut, or Slit that piece of Stuff’.
1702 T. Brown tr. G. B. Gelli Circe ix. 228 Some of your wise Men have not unproperly call'd it an Ocean of Miseries.
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. III. lxiv. 84 The inhabitants of this tract of land may not unproperly be called the Italian Swabians.
1887 Glasgow Herald 25 Feb. 7/9 Sir M. Hicks-Beach said he thought the term State trials was unproperly applied.
1976 M. Voïnov in M. Kleitz & J. Dupuy Electrode Processes in Solid State Ionics 460 The phenomena consist in the appearance of an adsorption band and devices featuring it are unproperly called ‘electrochromic’.
2. In an inappropriate, unsuitable, or unacceptable manner; to a low or unacceptable standard; improperly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > [adverb]
evilOE
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
unkindlyc1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
falsely1393
uncomelya1400
unsittinglyc1412
uncomelilyc1420
unorderly1471
ungainlya1500
ill?1529
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
undecently1563
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unbecomingly1653
abusefully1656
unbefittingly1871
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [adverb]
wrongc1175
unworthlyc1200
unkindly?c1225
ungraithlya1300
wrongly1303
unconablya1340
unworthily1377
ungoodlyc1380
uncovenablya1382
improperly1390
falsely1393
unduly1399
unseemlya1400
unsittinglyc1412
unorderly1471
induly1483
unseemlily1483
ungainlya1500
uncomely?1518
unmeetly1533
unconveniently1538
wrongfully?1549
uncomelily1561
undecently1563
indecently1589
unproperly1604
unbeseemingly1617
viciously1617
unseemingly1619
misbecominglya1625
unbeseeming1645
unbecomingly1653
invalidly1705
naughty1892
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [adverb] > with impropriety
unkindlyc1300
ungoodlyc1380
unhonestlyc1380
indecently1589
undecently1589
grossly1600
unproperly1604
widely1665
like a whore at a christening1706
indelicately1800
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > [adverb]
wrongc1175
miss?c1225
untruea1350
untrulyc1380
falselya1400
wilsomelyc1420
awrong1430
unpurelyc1460
fallibly1552
erroneously1578
sinistrously1581
wrongously1597
false1598
unproperly1604
incorrectly1611
fallaciously1612
mistakingly1652
foul1683
wrongfully1743
wrongly1755
erringly1815
1604 J. Fraser Offer maid to Gentilman of Qualitie 149 If they haue failled because they haue neglegentlie and vnproperlie donne their office, as the cryme was personal, so suld the paine & punition be personal.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 18 They commonly, but unproperly, imploy Joyners to make them.
1714 W. Whiston Argument Real Clergy-men 34 To these Ancient Monuments I do accordingly refer for not a few Things which I might otherwise not unproperly have taken Notice of in this Paper.
1784 Ess. Script. Acct. Efficacy of Baptism 18 He considers the latter testimony as a reason why he ought to submit thereto, and not as a reason against it, as is very unproperly urged by many in this day.
1862 Dundee Courier & Argus 3 Dec. His farm being unproperly fenced, and bounded by public roads, he suffered severely from trespasses by sheep and cattle.
1902 A. S. Hurd How our Navy is Run 229 In the case of a man coming to morning divisions unproperly dressed, he will be told to ‘muster his bag’ in the dinner hour.
2003 M. T. Audicana et al. in M. D. Miliotis & J. W. Bier Internat. Handbk. Foodborne Pathogens xxxviii. 623 The transmission of these foodborne pathogens is clearly related to traditions of consumption of raw or unproperly cooked fish.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.a1398