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as want compels, without previous provision. -- To make one's hand, to gain advantage or profit. -- To put the hand unto, to steal. Ex. xxii. 8.-- To put the last, or finishing, hand to, to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect. -- To set the hand to, to engage in; to undertake. That the Lord thy God…

Of no account; useless; vain; trifling; unprofitable; thoughtless; silly; barren. "Deserts idle." Shak. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matt. xii. 36. Down their idle weapons dropped. Milton. This idle story became important. Macaulay.

To place the profits of (ecclesiastical property) in the hands of a layman for care and disbursement.

Capable of being used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous. The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better. Sir T. Browne. -- Im*pro"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prov"a*bly, adv.

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. We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us. Barrow. A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved…

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. I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson…

ates; a person convicted on impeachment is thereby made incapable of holding an office of profit or honor under the government.

as the produce of a farm, the rent of houses, the proceeds of professional business, the profits of commerce or of occupation, or the interest of money or stock in funds, etc.; revenue; receipts; salary; especially, the annual receipts of a private person, or a corporation, from property; as, a large income. No fields…

Coming in; accruing. A full incoming profit on the product of his labor. Burke.

That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest. Take thou no usury of him, or increase. Lev. xxv. 36. Let them not live to taste this land's increase. Shak.

Infertile; barren; unprofitable; unproductive. [Obs.] Glanvill.

Not producing fruit; unfruitful; unprofitable. [R.] T. Adams.

Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.

Useless; unprofitable. [Obs.] Bacon.

Uselessness; the quality of being unprofitable; unprofitableness; as, the inutility of vain speculations and visionary projects.

Produce of the earth, or profits of land, tenements, or other property; as, A conveyed to B all his right for a term of years, with all the issues, rents, and profits.

A public transaction done for private profit; something performed ostensibly as a part of official duty, but really for private gain; a corrupt official business.

Pecuniarily embarrassed through owning much unprofitable land. [Colloq.]

A job, price, or profit. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Yielding lucre; gainful; profitable; making increase of money or goods; as, a lucrative business or office. The trade of merchandise being the most lucrative, may bear usury at a good rate. Bacon.