improvement etymology

Etymology

The word "improvement" is derived from the Old French word "aprovement," which is in turn derived from the Latin word "approbare," meaning "to prove" or "to approve."

Meaning and Origin

In the 14th century, the English word "improvement" came to mean "the act of making something better." This sense developed from the idea of proving or approving something, as in "improving" the quality of something. The word also came to be used in the sense of making something more useful or valuable, as in "improving" land or property.

Over time, the meaning of "improvement" has broadened to include any act or process that results in something becoming better. This can include physical improvements, such as renovations to a building or repairs to a machine, as well as intangible improvements, such as improvements to one's health or skills.

The concept of improvement is closely related to the idea of progress. Both terms imply that something is moving forward or becoming better. However, improvement is typically used to refer to specific changes or actions that make something better, while progress is more often used to refer to a general trend or movement towards a better state.

improvement relate terms

• improve

  Etymology Etymology pronounced ˌe tɪˈmɑːlə dʒi originates from two Greek roo

• proud

  Etymology Old English prūd prūde Proto Germanic prūdiz Proto Indo European prew

• self improvement

  Etymology The term self improvement is derived from the Latin phrase sui melioratio

• improvement

  Etymology The word improvement is derived from the Old French word aprovement which

• decline

  Etymology The word decline originates from the Old French word decliner which in tur

• advance

  Etymology The word advance comes from the Old French word avancer which originally m

• edification

  Etymology The word edification originates from the Latin term aedificare which means

• meliorism

  Etymology Late Latin meliorismus from Greek ameliorismos improvement from amelioro

• appurtenance

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word appertus meaning open or accessible Mea

• lard

  Etymology Old English lard Proto Germanic larduz Proto Indo European h₂éri̯o

• progress

  Etymology Progress comes from the Latin word progressus which means advancement or

• accommodation

  Etymology The word accommodation comes from the Latin word accommodare which means

• correction

  Etymology The word correction derives from the Latin word correctio which means to

• reparation

  Etymology The word reparation comes from the Latin word reparātiō meaning restor