proper

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prop·er

(prŏp′ər)

adj.

1. Characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting: the proper knife for cutting bread; not a proper moment for a joke.

2. Called for by rules or conventions; correct: the proper form for a business letter.

3. Strictly following rules or conventions, especially in social behavior; seemly: a proper lady; a proper gentleman.

a. Belonging to one; own: restored to his proper shape by the magician.

b. Characteristically belonging to the being or thing in question; peculiar: an optical effect proper to fluids.

5. Being within the strictly limited sense, as of a term designating something: the town proper, excluding the suburbs.

6. Ecclesiastical For use in the liturgy of a particular feast or season of the year.

7. Mathematics Of or relating to a subset of a given set when the set has at least one element not in the subset.

8. Worthy of the name; true: wanted a proper dinner, not just a snack.

9. Out-and-out; thorough: a proper whipping.

adv.

Thoroughly: beat the eggs good and proper.

n. also Proper Ecclesiastical

The portion of the liturgy that varies according to the particular feast or season of the year.

[Middle English propre, from Old French, from Latin proprius; see per in Indo-European roots.]

prop′er·ly adv.

prop′er·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

proper

(ˈprɒpə)

adj

1. (usually prenominal) appropriate or suited for some purpose: in its proper place.

2. correct in behaviour or conduct

3. excessively correct in conduct; vigorously moral

4. up to a required or regular standard

5. (immediately postpositive) (of an object, quality, etc) referred to or named specifically so as to exclude anything not directly connected with it: his claim is connected with the deed proper.

6. (foll by: to) belonging to or characteristic of a person or thing

7. (prenominal) informal Brit (intensifier): I felt a proper fool.

8. (Heraldry) (usually postpositive) (of heraldic colours) considered correct for the natural colour of the object or emblem depicted: three martlets proper.

9. (Mathematics) maths logic (of a relation) distinguished from a weaker relation by excluding the case where the relata are identical. For example, every set is a subset of itself, but a proper subset must exclude at least one member of the containing set. See also strict⁶

10. archaic pleasant or good

adv

11. dialect Brit (intensifier): he's proper stupid.

12. good and proper informal thoroughly: to get drunk good and proper.

(Ecclesiastical Terms) the parts of the Mass that vary according to the particular day or feast on which the Mass is celebrated. Compare ordinary¹⁰

[C13: via Old French from Latin prōprius special]

ˈproperly adv

ˈproperness n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

prop•er

(ˈprɒp ər)

adj.

1. adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; suitable.

2. conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous.

3. fitting; right.

4. belonging or pertaining exclusively to a person, thing, or group.

5. strict; accurate.

6. in the strict sense (usu. used postpositively): Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper.

7. normal or regular.

8. belonging to oneself or itself; own.

9. Chiefly Brit. complete; thorough: a proper thrashing.

10. Eccles. used only on a particular day or festival.

11. Math. (of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.

adv.

12. Chiefly Dial. thoroughly; completely.

13. Eccles. a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.

[1250–1300; Middle English propre < Old French < Latin proprius one's own]

prop′er•ly, adv.

prop′er•ness, n.

proper

- First meant "inherent, intrinsic."

proper

The adjective proper is used with several different meanings.

1. used to mean 'real'

You use proper in front of a noun to emphasize that someone or something really is the thing referred to by the noun.

It's important to have a proper breakfast in the morning, not just a cup of tea.

He's never had a proper job.

2. used to mean 'correct'

You also use proper in front of a noun to say that something is correct or suitable.

Everything was in its proper place.

The proper word is 'lying', not 'laying'.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'proper' when you are saying that something belongs to you. Use own instead. Don't say, for example, 'I've got my proper car'. Say 'I've got my own car.'

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	proper - marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness; "proper medical treatment"; "proper manners" appropriate - suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc; "a book not appropriate for children"; "a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity"; "it seems that an apology is appropriate" correct, right - free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth; "the correct answer"; "the correct version"; "the right answer"; "took the right road"; "the right decision" decent - conforming to conventions of sexual behavior; "speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana decorous - characterized by propriety and dignity and good taste in manners and conduct; "the tete-a-tete was decorous in the extreme" right - in conformance with justice or law or morality; "do the right thing and confess" improper - not suitable or right or appropriate; "slightly improper to dine alone with a married man"; "improper medication"; "improper attire for the golf course"
	2.	proper - having all the qualities typical of the thing specified; "wanted a proper dinner; not just a snack"; "he finally has a proper job" real - no less than what is stated; worthy of the name; "the real reason"; "real war"; "a real friend"; "a real woman"; "meat and potatoes--I call that a real meal"; "it's time he had a real job"; "it's no penny-ante job--he's making real money"
	3.	proper - limited to the thing specified; "the city proper"; "his claim is connected with the deed proper" specific - (sometimes followed by `to') applying to or characterized by or distinguishing something particular or special or unique; "rules with specific application"; "demands specific to the job"; "a specific and detailed account of the accident"
	4.	proper - appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person's character, needs; "everything in its proper place"; "the right man for the job"; "she is not suitable for the position" right appropriate - suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc; "a book not appropriate for children"; "a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity"; "it seems that an apology is appropriate"

proper

adjective

1. real, actual, genuine, true, bona fide, kosher (informal), dinkum (Austral & N.Z. informal) Two out of five people do not have a proper job.

2. correct, accepted, established, appropriate, right, formal, conventional, accurate, exact, precise, legitimate, orthodox, apt Please ensure that the proper procedures are followed.
correct inappropriate, improper, wrong, unsuitable, unconventional, unorthodox

3. polite, right, becoming, seemly, fitting, fit, mannerly, suitable, decent, gentlemanly, refined, respectable, befitting, genteel, de rigueur (French), ladylike, meet (archaic), decorous, punctilious, comme il faut (French) In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
polite common, crude, rude, coarse, indecent, unseemly, unbecoming, unrefined, impolite, ungentlemanly, discourteous, unladylike

4. characteristic, own, special, individual, personal, particular, specific, peculiar, respective Make sure everything is in its proper place.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

proper

adjective

1. Suitable for a particular person, condition, occasion, or place:

appropriate, apt, becoming, befitting, correct, felicitous, fit, fitting, happy, meet, right, tailor-made.

2. Suited to one's end or purpose:

appropriate, befitting, convenient, expedient, fit, good, meet, suitable, tailor-made, useful.

3. Consistent with prevailing or accepted standards or circumstances:

appropriate, deserved, due, fit, fitting, just, merited, right, rightful, suitable.

4. Conforming to accepted standards:

becoming, befitting, comely, comme il faut, correct, decent, decorous, de rigueur, nice, respectable, right, seemly.

5. In accordance with principles of right or good conduct:

ethical, moral, principled, right, righteous, rightful, right-minded, virtuous.

6. Marked by excessive concern for propriety and good form:

bluenosed, genteel, old-maidish, precise, priggish, prim, prissy, prudish, puritanical, strait-laced, stuffy, Victorian.

Idiom: prim and proper.

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

apropiado conveniente correcto debido preciso

proper

[ˈprɒpəʳ]

A. ADJ

1. (= right, suitable) [equipment, tools] → apropiado, adecuado
that's not really the proper tool for the job → ésa no es la herramienta apropiada or adecuada para el trabajo
at the proper time → en el momento oportuno
that's not the proper way to do it → así no se hace
you'll have to apply for a permit in the proper way → tendrás que solicitar el permiso por las vías establecidas

2. (= correct)
it was the proper thing to say → fue lo que había que decir
do as you think proper → haz lo que te parezca bien
I thought it proper to inform you → pensé que debía informarte
see also right A1

3. (= actual, real) → propiamente dicho
in the city proper → en la ciudad propiamente dicha, en la ciudad en sí
he's never had a proper job → nunca ha tenido un trabajo serio
forget nouvelle cuisine, give me proper food, any day → olvida la nueva cocina, dame todos los días comida como Dios manda
in the proper sense of the word → en el sentido estricto de la palabra

4. (= complete, downright) → verdadero
I felt a proper idiot → me sentí como un perfecto or verdadero idiota
we got a proper beating → nos dieron una paliza de las buenas

5. (= seemly) [person, behaviour] → correcto
it wasn't considered proper for a man to show his emotions → no se consideraba correcto or no estaba bien visto que un hombre mostrase sus emociones

6. (= prim and proper) → correcto y formal

7. (= peculiar, characteristic) → propio (to de)

B. ADV (Brit) he was proper upset about it → estaba verdaderamente or realmente disgustado por ello
she's a proper stuck-up young lady → es una joven bien creída
see also good A19

C. CPD proper fraction N (Math) → fracción f propia
proper name, proper noun N → nombre m propio

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

proper

(ˈpropə) adjective

1. right, correct, or suitable. That isn't the proper way to clean the windows; You should have done your schoolwork at the proper time – it's too late to start now.correcto, adecuado

2. complete or thorough. Have you made a proper search?completo

3. respectable or well-mannered. Such behaviour isn't quite proper.apropiado, correcto

ˈproperly adverb

1. correctly or rightly. She can't pronounce his name properly.correctamente

2. completely or thoroughly. I didn't have time to read the book properly.bien; completamente

proper noun/name

a noun or name which names a particular person, thing or place (beginning with a capital letter). `John' and `New York' are proper nouns.nombre propio

proper

→ apropiado

proper

a. propio-a, particular, apropiado-a.

proper

adj adecuado, apropiado

References in classic literature ?

In extensive governments it is proper to allot one employment to one person, as there are many to serve the public in so numerous a society, where some may be passed over for a long time, and others never be in office but once; and indeed everything is better done which has the whole attention of one person, than when that [1299b] attention is divided amongst many; but in small states it is necessary that a few of the citizens should execute many employments; for their numbers are so small it will not be convenient to have many of them in office at the same time; for where shall we find others to succeed them in turn?

For it may happen that the very same may be sometimes proper, sometimes otherwise: in this state it may be necessary that the magistrate have great powers, in that but small.

View in context

Of these the first is, the "power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof."

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There is a proper season for making attacks with fire, and special days for starting a conflagration.

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We hear from mathematicians that bees have practically solved a recondite problem, and have made their cells of the proper shape to hold the greatest possible amount of honey, with the least possible consumption of precious wax in their construction.

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If, on the one hand, it should be observed that the expenses incurred in the prosecution of the ambitious enterprises and vainglorious pursuits of a monarchy are not a proper standard by which to judge of those which might be necessary in a republic, it ought, on the other hand, to be remarked that there should be as great a disproportion between the profusion and extravagance of a wealthy kingdom in its domestic administration, and the frugality and economy which in that particular become the modest simplicity of republican government.

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To be sure, he said, they are to receive what we owe them, and an enemy, as I take it, owes to an enemy that which is due or proper to him-- that is to say, evil.

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they still sleep, these higher men, whilst I am awake: THEY are not my proper companions!

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But if from the comparative dimensions of the whale's proper brain, you deem it incapable of being adequately charted, then I have another idea for you.

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Surely it will be allowed that none could be more proper than the present, where we are about to introduce a considerable character on the scene; no less, indeed, than the heroine of this heroic, historical, prosaic poem.

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How soon he had walked himself into the proper resolution, however, how soon an opportunity of exercising it occurred, in what manner he expressed himself, and how he was received, need not be particularly told.

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These principles being established, let us now discuss the proper structure of the Plot, since this is the first and most important thing in Tragedy.

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