Where does “improperly” come from?

Improperly derives from Middle French improprement, from Latin improprius meaning "not suitable," formed from the prefix in- and proprius meaning "one's own."

improperly (English): in an improper manner; not properly

Definitions

  1. in an improper manner; not properly

Ancestry of “improperly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishimproperunsuitable to needs or circumstances;...
2Middle Frenchimpropre—
3Latinimpropriusnot proper; improper
4Latinin-un-, non-, not; in, within, inside
5Latininin, at, on, upon, from; within, while in; into,...
6Old Latinenin
7Proto-Italicenin
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →Every word from Proto-Italic en →Every word from Latin in- →