Now Rare to use profitably or to good advantage: to improve one's leisure by studying
to raise to a better quality or condition; make better
☆ to make (land or structures) more valuable by cultivation, construction, etc.
Origin:
earlier improw < Anglo-Fr emprower < en-, in + prou, gain, advantage < LL prode, advantage (back-form. < L prodesse, to be of advantage): see pro- & is