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Origin and history of improvement

improvement(n.)

mid-15c., enprowment "profitable use, management of something for profit," from Anglo-French emprowement, from emprouwer "turn to profit" (see improve). Meaning "betterment; act of making better, amelioration" is from 1640s. Meaning "production of something better, something better (than something else)" is from 1712. Meaning "buildings, etc. on a piece of property" is from 1773. Related: Improvements.

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to improvement

improve(v.)

late 15c., "to use to one's profit, to increase (income)," from Anglo-French emprouwer "to turn to profit" (late 13c.), from Old French en-, a causative prefix or from em-, + prou "profit," from Latin prode "advantageous" (see proud (adj.)).

Spelling with -v- was rare before 17c.; it apparently arose from confusion of -v- and -u-. Spelling otherwise deformed by influence of words in -prove. Meaning "make better, raise to a better quality or condition" first recorded 1610s. Intransitive sense "get better" is from 1727. Phrase improve the occasion retains the etymological sense. Meaning "to turn land to profit" (by clearing it, erecting buildings, etc.) was in Anglo-French (13c.) and survived or was revived in the American colonies and Australia. Hence, "make good use of, occupy (a place) and convert to some purpose."

self-improvement(n.)

"improvement of one's character, etc., by one's own efforts," 1745, from self- + improvement.

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    decline
    late 14c., "to turn aside, deviate" (a sense now archaic), also "sink to a lower level," and, figuratively, "fall to an inferior or impaired condition," from Old French decliner "to sink, decline, degenerate, turn aside," from Latin declinare "to lower; avoid, deviate; bend from,
    advance
    mid-13c., avauncen (transitive), "improve (something), further the development of," from Old French avancir, avancier "move forward, go forward, set forward" (12c., Modern French avancer), from Vulgar Latin *abanteare (source of Italian avanzare, Spanish avanzar). This is from La
    edification
    aedificationem (nominative aedificatio) "construction, the process of building; a building, an edifice," in Late Latin "spiritual improvement...Meaning "mental improvement" is 1650s....
    meliorism
    as a metaphysical concept, "belief that the world tends to become better or is capable of improvement;" in practical terms..., "the improvement of society by regulated practical means;" by 1868, attributed to "George Eliot" (Mary Anne Evans), from...She was cheered by the hope and by the belief in gradual improvement of the mass; for in her view each individual must find...
    appurtenance
    c. 1300, "right, privilege or possession subsidiary to a principal one," especially in law, "a right, privilege, or improvement...
    lard
    Figuratively, of speech or writing, "intersperse with material by way of ornament or improvement," from 1540s....
    progress
    onward in space;" c. 1600 in the figurative sense of "move toward something better, advance on the line of development or improvement...
    accommodation
    c. 1600, "that which supplies a want or need," from French accommodation, from Latin accommodationem (nominative accommodatio) "an adjustment," noun of action from past-participle stem of accommodare "make fit; make fit for" (see accommodate). Meaning "appliance, anything which a
    correction
    mid-14c., correccioun, "authority to correct;" late 14c., "action of correcting or chastising, rectification of faults (in character, conduct, etc.) by restraints or punishments," also "a bringing into conformity to a standard, model, or original," from Old French correccion (13c
    reparation
    late 14c., reparacioun, "repair, act of mending" (a sense now rare or obsolete), also "amends, compensation, recompense, satisfaction for injury, what is done to repair a wrong," from Old French reparacion and directly from Late Latin reparationem (nominative reparatio) "act of r

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