To use, to employ. The canting phrase, “to improve the occasion,” is still used in some religious circles.
1677. Other places adjoining were soon after seized, and improved for Trading and Fishing.—W. Hubbard, ‘Narrative’ (1865), ii. 71. (N.E.D.)
1702. Her tongue was improved by a demon, to express things unknown to herself.—Cotton Mather, ‘Magnalia,’ Book VI. (Bartlett).
1768. The farm which said Moore now improves.—Advt., Boston-Gazette, Feb. 1.
1768. A good large convenient Double House, which has been improved and well-accustomed as a Tavern.—Id., May 23.
1770. The Store lately improved by Mr. Nathaniel Loring, opposite the East End of Faneuil Hall.—Id., June 11.
1773. [Ebenezer Oliver sells Garden Seeds] at his Shop (formerly improved by his late Mother Mrs. Bethiah Oliver deceased).—Id., Feb. 22.
1774. I paid the tax for a wood lot which I never improved.—Newport Mercury, May 2.
1775. Some of our School lads … improved the coast from Sherburn’s Hill down to School Street…. Their fathers before ’em had improved it as a coast from time immemorial.—Letter in Proceedings of the Mass. Historical Society, 1865, p. 398. (N.E.D.)
1783. Our meeting-house has been improved as a hospital by the English, and afterwards by the French army.—‘Petition to the House of Assembly, Rhode Island,’ June (Bartlett).
1790. Dr. Franklin’s remarks on the use of the word improve are very just. In Newengland it is made to signify employ, use, occupy. Thus our people say, a building has been improved as a store; a certain farm is improved by such a person; and a man has been improved as a physician.—Noah Webster in the American Mercury: Mass. Spy, Aug. 19.
1797. [Governor Samuel Adams appointed Thursday, May 4,] to be observed and improved throughout this commonwealth, for the purpose of public fasting and prayer.—Mass. Spy, April 19.
1801. All conveniently situated for a Public House, for which it has been improved for some years past.—Mass. Spy, Oct. 28.
1802. The elegance of the house [the new church at Danbury] evinced to all present that the members gratefully received and religiously improved the grant of a lottery which enabled them to build it, and dedicate it to the worship of Almighty God.—The Port Folio, ii. 414 (Phila.).
1821. Dr. Dwight quotes Addison, Watts, and Doddridge: adding that “Englishmen have always used the word in the very same sense”—which is an over-bold statement.—‘Travels,’ iv. 287.
1829. Passages like this sometimes occur: “The house, while improved by him, deteriorated greatly in value.” This is something like Paddy’s “advancing backward.” If people would recollect that to improve is to make better, and that the occupancy of a building does not generally improve it, the misuse of this word would become less common.—Mass. Spy, Jan. 28.
1855. Go and improve that farm, though I do not deed it to you.—Brigham Young, June 3: ‘Journal of Discourses,’ ii. 304.
