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impropria

Impropia is a Latin term formed as the feminine singular of the adjective improprius, meaning not proper, improper, or inappropriate. The adjective is used in classical and medieval Latin to describe actions, things, or situations that do not conform to the norms of propriety or proprium. Because Latin adjectives agree with the nouns they modify, impropria can appear in different syntactic forms depending on gender and number; for example, feminine singular is impropria, feminine plural is impropriae, masculine singular is improprius, neuter plural is impropria, and so on.

In Latin grammar, improprius and its inflected forms are employed to convey judgments about propriety or suitability

In modern linguistic and philological work, impropria is primarily encountered as an inflected form of an adjective

See also: improprius, proprius, Latin grammar, Latin adjectives.

in
moral,
legal,
rhetorical,
or
philosophical
contexts.
A
phrase
such
as
res
impropria
would
translate
to
“an
improper
matter,”
with
impropria
functioning
as
a
descriptive
modifier
of
a
feminine
noun
like
res
(thing).
The
term
may
also
occur
in
biblical,
patristic,
or
scholastic
Latin
where
discussions
of
proper
conduct,
rightful
use,
or
legitimate
categories
arise.
rather
than
as
a
standalone
technical
term.
It
is
of
interest
mainly
to
students
of
Latin
grammar,
translations,
and
the
study
of
Latin-era
prose,
where
precise
agreement
and
nuance
of
propriety
can
bear
on
interpretation.