Both Uses of
impropriety
in
War and Peace
- If a man lacking in self-confidence remains dumb on a first introduction and betrays a consciousness of the impropriety of such silence and an anxiety to find something to say, the effect is bad.†
Chpt 3 *
- Cursing his temerity, his heart sinking at the thought of finding himself at any moment face to face with the Emperor and being put to shame and arrested in his presence, fully alive now to the impropriety of his conduct and repenting of it, Rostov, with downcast eyes, was making his way out of the house through the brilliant suite when a familiar voice called him and a hand detained him.†
Chpt 5
Definition:
-
(impropriety) behavior thought not to be proper -- such as immoral or rude behavior