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; to refute. [Obs.] Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve. Tyndale.

h; promotion in desirable qualities; progress toward what is better; melioration; as, the improvement of the mind, of land, roads, etc. I look upon your city as the best place of improvement. South. Exercise is the chief source of improvement in all our faculties. Blair.

One who, or that which, improves.

To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of the earth.

To use for a bad purpose; to abuse; to misuse; as, to misimprove time, talents, advantages, etc. South.

Ill use or employment; use for a bad purpose.

Not improved; not made better or wiser; not advanced in knowledge, manners, or excellence.

the earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to retardation. A period of social improvement, or of intellectual advancement, contains within itself a principle of acceleration. I. Taylor. (Astr. & Physics.) Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the moon's mean motion in its orbit, in consequence of which…

ceives an addition by growth, or by labor, has a right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a cow becomes the owner of her calf.

Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an advance in rank or office.

The act of advancing, or the state of being advanced; progression; improvement; furtherance; promotion to a higher place or dignity; as, the advancement of learning. In heaven . . . every one (so well they love each other) rejoiceth and hath his part in each other's advancement. Sir T. More. True religion . . . propose…

To make better; to improve; to meliorate. In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition. Macaulay.

The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated; making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of human affairs." J. S. Mill.

Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement; as, ameliorative remedies, efforts.

the details or provisions of a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its improvement.

Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them to the uses of husbandry for the advantage of the lord of the manor. Blackstone.

is philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy. -- Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.), teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed ultimate par…

Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement. I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi. 5.

To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will benefit by the change.