Dictionary

proper en · ADJ

Pronunciation

[ˈpɹɔ̟pə] (New-Zealand)
präpʹər (General-American)
/ˈpɹɔpə/ (Australia, British, Southern, Standard)
/ˈpɹɒpɚ/ (Canada)
(US) audio
/ˈpɾɔpəɾ/ (Scotland)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpɹɑpɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Italic *prijos Proto-Italic *proprijos Latin propriusbor. Anglo-Norman proprebor. Middle English propre English proper From Middle English propre, from Anglo-Norman proper, propre, Old French propre (French: propre), from Latin proprius.

Meanings

Suitable. ▸ Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable.
- One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination. 2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891:
- The proper study of mankind is man. 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:
- the proper time to plant potatoes
Suitable. ▸ Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous.
- This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.[…]Indeed, all his features were in large mold, like the man himself, as though he had come from a day when skin garments made the proper garb of men. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
- a very proper young lady
- The Nippy became a national icon, symbolic of the girl next door, always approachable and proper; […] 2014, Paul Chrystal, Tea: A Very British Beverage:
(of a function) Suitable. ▸ Such that the preimage of every compact set is compact.
(of a function) Suitable. ▸ Continuous, mapping closed sets to closed sets, and such that the preimage of every point is compact.
(of a morphism of schemes) Suitable. ▸ Separated, of finite type, and universally closed.
(of a variety over a field k) Suitable. ▸ Such that unique morphism from the variety to k is proper (as above).
(of a metric space) Suitable. ▸ Such that every closed ball is compact.
Possessed, related. ▸ Used to designate a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are usually written with an initial capital letter.
Possessed, related. ▸ Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular.
- They have a proper saint almost for every peculiar infirmity: for poison, gouts, agues […]. , II.1.3
- 1829, James Marsh, Preliminary Essay to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Aids to Reflection those higher and peculiar attributes […] which constitute our proper humanity
(postpositional, usually) Possessed, related. ▸ In the strict sense; within the strict definition or core (of a specified place, taxonomic order, idea, etc).
- Hence, this border is still blurred, raising the question whether traumatic life events induce sadness/distress – which is self-evident – or depression proper and, secondly, whether sadness/distress is a precursor or pacemaker of depression. 2004, Stress, the Brain and Depression, page 24:
- Siberia, though it stands outside the territorial confines of Russia proper, constitutes an essentially component part […]. Outer Mongolia, [so called] to distinguish it from Inner Mongolia, which lies nearer to China proper, revolted and declared its independence. 1976, Eu-Yang Kwang, The political reconstruction of China, page 165:
- These are divided into two great families, the vipers proper (Viperidae) and the pit-vipers (Crotalidae). 1893, Annual of the Universal Medical Sciences:
Possessed, related. ▸ Belonging to oneself or itself; own.
- Each animal has its proper pleasure, and the proper pleasure of man is connected with reason. 1946, Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, I.20:
- a man so bold That dares do justice on my proper son c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
- proper motion — proper left — proper right
- every country, and more than that, every private place, hath his proper remedies growing in it, particular almost to the domineering and most frequent maladies of it. , II.4.1.ii
- Now learn the difference, at your proper cost, / Betwixt true valour and an empty boast. 1717, John Dryden, Meleager and Atalanta:
Possessed, related. ▸ Portrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures.
Possessed, related. ▸ Being strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself.
- proper subset — proper ideal
Possessed, related. ▸ Eigen-; designating a function or value which is an eigenfunction or eigenvalue.
Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ Excellent, of high quality; such as the specific person or thing should ideally be. (Now often merged with later senses.)
- Now that was a proper breakfast.
(regional) Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ Attractive, elegant.
- The same tyme was Moses borne, and was a propper [translating ἀστεῖος (asteîos)] childe in the sight of God, which was norisshed up in his fathers housse thre monethes. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts vij:
(often, postpositional) Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ In the very strictest sense of the word.
- Though unusual in the Dublin area he knew that it was not by any means unknown for desperadoes who had next to nothing to live on to be abroad waylaying and generally terrorising peaceable pedestrians by placing a pistol at their head in some secluded spot outside the city proper[…]. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC:
(of a city or town) Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ Including only the core areas while excluding surrounding suburbs.
(colloquial) Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ Utter, complete.
- When I realized I was wearing my shirt inside out, I felt a proper fool.
(of a class) Accurate, strictly applied. ▸ Not being a set.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
propuh		alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
most proper	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
propah		alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
propre		alternative, obsolete	lexicographic
propa		Geordie, alternative	lexicographic
more proper	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic

Translations (239)

mk вистински (informal: utter) · got 𐍆𐌰𐌲𐍂𐍃 (fit, suitable) · ja 全く (informal: utter) · nl geschikt (fit, suitable) · nl grondig (complete, thorough) · fi luonnonvärinen (heraldry: having its natural or usual coloration) · fa خود (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ru со́бственный (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · ja きちんとした (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fi oikea (entitled to its name, true) · nl deugdelijk (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · sv äkta (entitled to its name, true) · sq duhur (fit, suitable) · de Eigenname (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · ka სათანადო (fit, suitable) · hy համապատասխան (fit, suitable) · pt apropriado (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · pt próprio (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · ja ふさわしい (fit, suitable) · grc ἄρτιος (fit, suitable) · ro propriu (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · fi kunnon (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 適当 (fit, suitable) · ja 本来の (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · ja 徹底した (complete, thorough) · ota راست (fit, suitable) · ru по́лный (informal: utter) · hu megfelelő (fit, suitable) · ka ვარგისი (fit, suitable) · ja 厳密 (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ja 適した (fit, suitable) · no ordentlig (complete, thorough) · pt adequado (fit, suitable) · cmn 妥妥的 (complete, thorough) · it decente (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · de richtig (entitled to its name, true) · bg подходящ (fit, suitable) · sl pravi (entitled to its name, true) · mk прикладен (fit, suitable) · no passende (fit, suitable) · bg собствен (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · sq përshtatur (fit, suitable) · sv riktig (informal: utter) · pdt sitlich (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · es proprio (fit, suitable) · nl goed (fit, suitable) · cs pořádný (complete, thorough) · ru соотве́тствующий (fit, suitable) · ru са́мый (in the very strictest sense of the word) · no sann (entitled to its name, true) · cs pravý (fit, suitable) · ka საკუთარი (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · hu tulajdonnév (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · bg собствен (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · bg приличен (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · de richtig (complete, thorough) · uk нале́жний (fit, suitable) · gl adecuado (fit, suitable) · ang cynn (fit, suitable) · ja 完璧 (informal: utter) · ka ნიშანდობლივი (in the very strictest sense of the word) · fr approprié (fit, suitable) · sl spodoben (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 上品 (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · hy պատշաճ (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · pt apropriado (fit, suitable) · pt próprio (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · nl eigen- (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · fi kunnollinen (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · hu rendes (entitled to its name, true) · ru как таково́й (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ca adequat (fit, suitable) · nl compleet (informal: utter) · no veloppdragent (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ru пра́вильный (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · cmn 適當 /适当 (fit, suitable) · it adatto (fit, suitable) · ka მართებული (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · cmn 徹底 /彻底 (complete, thorough) · sv äkta (complete, thorough) · nl eigen (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆 (fit, suitable) · gl apropiado (fit, suitable) · sl primeren (fit, suitable) · ka სწორი (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja まとも (entitled to its name, true) · cs správný (fit, suitable) · ur اچت (fit, suitable) · fi kelpo (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 適切 (fit, suitable) · es propio (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · ckb پەسەند (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fi varsinainen (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ka საკუთარი (in the very strictest sense of the word) · hu tökéletes (informal: utter) · sv naturfärgad (heraldry: having its natural or usual coloration) · sv passande (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 元の (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · mk сопствен (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · sv egen (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · he ראוי (fit, suitable) · cmn 端正 (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · nl zelf (in the very strictest sense of the word) · nl eigenlijk (in the very strictest sense of the word) · nl net (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · no ordentlig (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · sl ustrezen (fit, suitable) · nl echt (entitled to its name, true) · gd iomchaidh (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · mk погоден (fit, suitable) · ang ġedafen (fit, suitable) · ro decent (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · pt completo (complete, thorough) · mk личен (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · cmn 端莊 /端庄 (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · de eigentlich (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ru по́лный (complete, thorough) · ka დამახასიათებელი (in the very strictest sense of the word) · nl volslagen (informal: utter) · cmn 妥當 /妥当 (fit, suitable) · nl juist (fit, suitable) · da ordentlig (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · mk соодветен (fit, suitable) · mk сопствен (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · no korrekt (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · no høvelig (fit, suitable) · gd iomchaidh (fit, suitable) · pl jako taki (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ru настоя́щий (informal: utter) · no egentlig (in the very strictest sense of the word) · la stricto sensu (in the very strictest sense of the word) · pl właściwy (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · cs vlastní (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · pt próprio (fit, suitable) · fr propre (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · de eigen (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · eo bonorda (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ro cuviincios (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · pl właściwy (fit, suitable) · tr düzgün (fit, suitable) · ru кру́глый (informal: utter) · ja 完全 (informal: utter) · ka ჩვეული (in the very strictest sense of the word) · mk самиот (in the very strictest sense of the word) · pl właściwy (in the very strictest sense of the word) · nl echt (in the very strictest sense of the word) · cs pořádný (informal: utter) · fi kelpo (complete, thorough) · fr proprement dit (in the very strictest sense of the word) · sl lasten (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · mk прав (informal: utter) · pt decente (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ka სათანადო (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · es proprio (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · la idōneus (fit, suitable) · sv lämplig (fit, suitable) · cs slušný (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · hi शालीन (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 妥当 (fit, suitable) · uk підходя́щий (fit, suitable) · cs pravý (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · fi oikea (informal: utter) · mk правилен (entitled to its name, true) · sv riktig (entitled to its name, true) · gl axeitado (fit, suitable) · da passende (fit, suitable) · hi सभ्य (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · it appropriato (fit, suitable) · no høvisk (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · pt propriamente dito (in the very strictest sense of the word) · fr propre (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · bg пристоен (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fi oikea (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · hit 𒀀𒀀𒊏 (fit, suitable) · mk свој (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · sl lasten (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · fr exact (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · nl degelijk (entitled to its name, true) · cs pořádný (entitled to its name, true) · nl gepast (fit, suitable) · fi kunnon (fit, suitable) · bg правилен (entitled to its name, true) · cs vlastní (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ka წესიერი (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fr juste (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · no skikkelig (complete, thorough) · ja 品の良い (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · sv egennamn (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · fr propre (in the very strictest sense of the word) · ru подходя́щий (fit, suitable) · ru надлежа́щий (fit, suitable) · pt certinho (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · de angemessen (fit, suitable) · ru прису́щий (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · nl keurig (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · it proprio (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · no riktig (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · sv äkta (informal: utter) · ja 固有の (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · sv passande (fit, suitable) · de richtig (fit, suitable) · ja 固有 (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · bg свойствен (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · fr convenable (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 独特の (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · cy addas (fit, suitable) · hu saját (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · de passend (fit, suitable) · sv proper (fit, suitable) · pt certo (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ka შესაფერისი (fit, suitable) · fi varsinainen (entitled to its name, true) · pt por completo (informal: utter) · mk умесен (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · da passende (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · mk пристоен (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ka თავაზიანი (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fi erisnimi (grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing) · ang dafenlīċ (fit, suitable) · ka ჯეროვანი (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · hu tényleges (in the very strictest sense of the word) · sv egentlig (in the very strictest sense of the word) · sv riktig (complete, thorough) · ru со́бственный (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · mk добар (complete, thorough) · hil dápat (fit, suitable) · hi उचित (fit, suitable) · ja 完全 (complete, thorough) · de richtig (informal: utter) · cs vlastní (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · no egen (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · nl goed (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · ja 特有の (belonging to oneself or itself, own) · ang ġedēfe (fit, suitable) · ka ზრდილობიანი (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · grc πρεπώδης (fit, suitable) · la aptus (fit, suitable) · uk пра́вильний (following the established standards of behavior or manners) · fi oikea (fit, suitable)

proper en · ADV

Pronunciation

[ˈpɹɔ̟pə] (New-Zealand)
präpʹər (General-American)
/ˈpɹɔpə/ (Australia, British, Southern, Standard)
/ˈpɹɒpɚ/ (Canada)
(US) audio
/ˈpɾɔpəɾ/ (Scotland)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpɹɑpɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Meanings

(Ireland, UK, colloquial, not-comparable) properly; thoroughly; completely.
- 'I thought it was the American Associated Press.' 'Oh, they are on the track, are they?' 'They to-day, and the Times yesterday. Oh, they are buzzing round proper.' 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed:
- Don't you think you must have looked proper daft? 1964, Saint Andrew Society (Glasgow, Scotland), The Scots magazine: Volume 82
- The kid towelled him up proper. 1957, Ray Lawler, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Sydney: Fontana Books, published 1974, page 32:
- “Christmas Eve,” said Nabby Adams. “I used to pump the bloody organ for the carols, proper pissed usually.” 1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 202:
(colloquial, nonstandard, not-comparable) properly.
- When I meet a bad chick, know I gotta tell her hello talk real proper, but she straight up out the ghetto 2012, Latta, Soufside, Hello (song)
- "But it's not many of us as can make 'em proper." 1988, Mary Steele, Mallyroot's Pub at Misery Ponds, Ringwood: Puffin Books, page 68:

Forms

Spelling	Labels	Source
propuh	alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
propa	Geordie, alternative	lexicographic
propah	alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
propre	alternative, obsolete	lexicographic

proper en · NOUN

Pronunciation

[ˈpɹɔ̟pə] (New-Zealand)
präpʹər (General-American)
/ˈpɹɔpə/ (Australia, British, Southern, Standard)
/ˈpɹɒpɚ/ (Canada)
(US) audio
/ˈpɾɔpəɾ/ (Scotland)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (New-Zealand)
/ˈpɹɒpə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
/ˈpɹɑpɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

Meanings

(obsolete) Something set apart for a special use.
A part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
propah		alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
propuh		alternative, pronunciation-spelling	lexicographic
propers	Number=Plur		lexicographic
propa		Geordie, alternative	lexicographic
propre		alternative, obsolete	lexicographic

Coordinates

ordinary

proper en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (239)

proper en · ADV

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

proper en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Coordinates