improvement English · revision 4956

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1320|origins=xno emprowement}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪmˈpruːv.mənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|emprowement]], [[bor|xno|emprowement]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from emprouwer “to turn to profit”,^(Etymonline) the source of [[improve]], based on Old French prou “profit”, ultimately from Latin prōdest “it is of advantage”.^(Cresswell 2021) The spelling changed under the influence of [[prove]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Profitable use or management, profit: about 1320 in the OED, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Making land more profitable, by enclosure or cultivation, is from 1302 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Profitable investment of money is from 1655.^(OED 1989) A piece of improved land is from 1640,^(OED 1989) and buildings and fences put on land to raise its value from 1773.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The general meaning “making better, betterment” is from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) bodily or mental cultivation from 1711,^(OED 1989) and something better than something else from 1712.^(Etymonline) In West Yorkshire schools an improvement was a specimen of writing a boy brought home to show his progress.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1302 – making land profitable.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1320 – profitable use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640s – making better.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1712 – something better.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1773 – buildings on land.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act or process of making something better, or of becoming better.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A change or addition that makes something better.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that is better than an earlier thing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Work that adds to the value of [[land]] or a [[building]].^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonimprovement]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[improve]]

+ * [[prove]]

+ * [[proud]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}