Where does “improprement” come from?
improprement (French) comes from French proprement, from French -ment, from Middle French -ment, from Old French -ment, from Latin -mentum, from Latin -menta, from Proto-Indo-European -mn̥ — Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs.
improprement (French): improperly
Definitions
- improperly
Ancestry of “improprement”, step by step
improprement traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French proprement
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | proprement | properly; cleanly |
| 2 | French | -ment | Attaches to an adjective in the feminine singular to form the corresponding adverb |
| 3 | Middle French | -ment | Used to form adverbs, most of the time equivalent... |
| 4 | Old French | -ment | Used to form adverbs, most of the time equivalent... |
| 5 | Latin | -mentum | instrument, medium, or result of; e.g.... |
| 6 | Latin | -menta | nominative plural of -mentum; accusative plural... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -mn̥ | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs |
via French impropre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | impropre | inappropriate |