I love not to improve the honor of the living by
impairing that of the dead. --Denham.
2. To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to
turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve
one's time; to improve his means. --Shak.
We shall especially honor God by improving
diligently the talents which God hath committed to
us. --Barrow.
A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened
and improved. --Addison.
The court seldom fails to improve the oppotunity.
--Blackstone.
How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining
hour. --I. Watts.
Those moments were diligently improved. --Gibbon.
True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion,
binds us to improve the occasion. --Washington.
3. To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; --
said with reference to what is bad. [R.]
We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the
wretched inheritance of our ancestors. --Bp.
Porteus.
Syn: To better; meliorate; ameliorate; advance; heighten;
mend; correct; recify; amend; reform.
Neither can any of them make so strong a reason
which another can not improve. --Tyndale.
2. To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure;
as, to improve negligence. [Obs.] --Chapman.
When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto
the high apostles, they could improve nothing.
--Tyndale.
We take care to improve in our frugality and
diligence. --Atterbury.
2. To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse.
``Domitain improved in cruelty.'' --Milner.
3. To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the
price of cotton improves.
{To improve on} or {upon}, to make useful additions or
amendments to, or changes in; to bring nearer to
perfection; as, to improve on the mode of tillage.