Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- To fail to improve or make a good use of; misapply; neglect opportunities of improving: as, to
misimprove time, talents, advantages.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To use for a bad purpose; to abuse; to misuse
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive, archaic To use for a bad purpose; to
misuse .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Do not say that ye improve the talent that He hath given you to trade with, for ye but misimprove it; and the best of you, we fear, come short of improving it.
The Life of James Renwick A Historical Sketch Of His Life, Labours And Martyrdom And A Vindication Of His Character And Testimony Thomas Houston
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God does not confer grace upon them, and their being unfaithful in earthly matters is evidence that they would be also in much greater affairs, and would likewise misimprove the true riches.
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Do not say that ye improve the talent that He hath given you to trade with, for ye but misimprove it; and the best of you, we fear, come short of improving it.
The Life of James Renwick Houston, Thomas 1865
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Society duties and requisitions, yet you should in no manner misimprove the facilities afforded
Valedictory Speech of Peter King Rounsaville, June 5, 1844 1844
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If you should at any time be so unhappy as to violate your obligations to yourself, to your companions, or to me, -- should you misimprove your time, or exhibit an unkind or a selfish spirit, or be disrespectful or insubordinate to your teachers, -- I should go frankly and openly, but kindly to you, and endeavor to convince you of your fault.
The Teacher Or, Moral Influences Employed in the Instruction and Government of the Young Jacob Abbott 1841
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Well, I did not misimprove my opportunities for knowledge, I believe; but, instead of gaining strength and manhood by my exemption from labor, I grew feebler and feebler.
Gaut Gurley D. P. Thompson 1831
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This day of God's patience is the great opportunity of our salvation; and if we let it slip, it is never to be recovered: if we misimprove this time of our life, we shall not be permitted to live it over again to improve it better.
The Works of Dr. John Tillotson, Late Archbishop of Canterbury. Vol. 07. 1630-1694 1820
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