英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

impressionistic (adj.)[impressionistic 词源字典]: 1886; see impressionist + -ic.[impressionistic etymology, impressionistic origin, 英语词源]
impressive (adj.): 1570s, "capable of being easily impressed," from impress + -ive. Meaning "capable of making an impression on the mind or senses" is from 1775. Related: Impressively; impressiveness.
impressment (n.): 1796, "act of impressing into service," from impress (v.) + -ment.
imprimatur (n.): 1640, Modern Latin, literally "let it be printed," the formula of a book licenser, third person singular present subjunctive passive of Latin imprimere "to print" (see impress). Originally of state license to print books, later only of Roman Catholic Church.
imprint (v.): late 14c., from Old French empreinter, from empreinte, noun use of fem. past participle of eimpreindre "to impress, imprint," from Vulgar Latin *impremere, from Latin imprimere "to impress, imprint" (see impress). As a noun from mid-15c.
imprison (v.): c. 1300, from Old French emprisoner (12c.), from em- "in" (see in- (2)) + prison (see prison). Related: Imprisoned; imprisoning.
imprisonment (n.): late 14c., from Anglo-French emprisonement, Old French emprisonement (13c.), from emprisoner (see imprison).
improbability (n.): 1590s, "fact or quality of being improbably;" see improbable + -ity. Meaning "an instance of something improbable" is from 1610s.
improbable (adj.): 1590s, from assimilated form of in- (1) "not, opposite of" + probable, or else from Latin improbabilis. Related: Improbably.
imprompt (adj.): (obsolete) 1759, from Latin impromptus "unready, hesitating," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + promptus "ready" (see prompt).
impromptu: 1660s (adv.), 1764 (adj.), from French impromptu (1650s), from Latin in promptu "in readiness," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + promptu, ablative of promptus "readiness," from past participle of promere "to bring out," from pro- "before, forward, for" + emere "to obtain" (see exempt).
improper (adj.): mid-15c., "not true," from French impropre (14c.), from Latin improprius, from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + proprius (see proper). Meaning "not suited, unfit" is from 1560s; that of "not in accordance with good manners, modesty, decency" is from 1739. Related: Improperly (late 14c.).
impropriety (n.): 1610s, "quality or fact of being improper," from French impropriété (16c.), from Latin improprietas, from improprius (see improper). As "improper thing," 1670s.
improv (n.): 1970 as colloquial shortening for improvisation. The New York City comedy club, founded in 1963, was, in full, The Improvisation.
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-, causative prefix, + prou "profit," from Latin prode "advantageous" (see proud). Spelling with -v- was rare before 17c. Meaning "to raise to a better quality or condition" first recorded 1610s. 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 was retained in the American colonies.
improvement (n.): mid-15c., enprowment "management of something for profit," from Anglo-French emprowement, from emprouwer "turn to profit" (see improve). Meaning "betterment; amelioration" is from 1640s. Meaning "buildings, etc. on a piece of property" is from 1773. Related: Improvements.
improvidence (n.): "lack of foresight, rashness," mid-15c., from Latin improvidentia, from assimilated form of in- "not" (see in- (1)) + providentia (see providence).
improvident (adj.): 1510s, from im- "not" + provident. It retains a stronger connection with the "provide" aspect of Latin providere. Related: Improvidently.
improvisation (n.): mid-15c., "unforeseen happening;" 1786 as "act of improvising musically," from French improvisation, from improviser "compose or say extemporaneously," from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso "unforeseen, unprepared," from Latin improvisus "not foreseen, unforeseen, unexpected," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + provisus "foreseen," also "provided," past participle of providere "foresee, provide" (see provide).
improvisational (adj.): 1879; see improvisation + -al (1).