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proper
[ prop-er ]
adjective
the proper time to plant strawberries.
Synonyms: suited
- conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous:
a very proper young man.
Synonyms: appropriate, becoming, befitting, meet
It was only proper to bring a gift.
Synonyms: appropriate, becoming, befitting, meet
- strictly belonging or applicable:
the proper place for a stove.
- belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
Synonyms: peculiar, individual, special
proper pronunciation.
- in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively):
Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
- Grammar.
- (of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
- having the force or function of a proper name:
a proper adjective.
- normal or regular.
- belonging to oneself or itself; own.
- Chiefly British Informal. complete or thorough:
a proper thrashing.
- Ecclesiastical. used only on a particular day or festival:
the proper introit.
- Heraldry. (of a device) depicted in its natural colors:
an oak tree proper.
- Informal.
- excellent; capital; fine.
- good-looking or handsome.
- Mathematics. (of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
- Archaic. of good character; respectable.
adverb
- Informal. thoroughly; completely.
noun
- Ecclesiastical. a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.
proper
/ ˈprɒpə /
adjective
- usually prenominal appropriate or suited for some purpose
in its proper place
- correct in behaviour or conduct
- excessively correct in conduct; vigorously moral
- up to a required or regular standard
- 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
- postpositivefoll byto belonging to or characteristic of a person or thing
- informal.prenominal (intensifier)
I felt a proper fool
- usually postpositive (of heraldic colours) considered correct for the natural colour of the object or emblem depicted
three martlets proper
- 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 strict
- archaic.pleasant or good
adverb
- dialect.(intensifier)
he's proper stupid
- good and proper informal.thoroughly
to get drunk good and proper
noun
- the parts of the Mass that vary according to the particular day or feast on which the Mass is celebrated Compare ordinary
Derived Forms
- ˈproperly, adverb
- ˈproperness, noun
Other Words From
- prop·er·ly adverb
- prop·er·ness noun
- un·prop·er adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of proper1
Word History and Origins
Origin of proper1
Example Sentences
Folic acid is particularly important in early pregnancy, aiding proper development of the baby's brain, skull and spinal cord.
Facing a much more dangerous offense this week, proper communication will be the top priority, as Chase can stress defenses by lining up all over the field, Fulton said.
At the time, the Missouri State Highway Patrol database also listed a citation for operating a vehicle without proper proof of insurance.
When replicated at a larger scale, this can lead to false memories—something we see everywhere from boomer Facebook groups bemoaning the disappearance of “proper binmen” to political movements that exploit these feelings of nostalgia, which essentially trade on the false premise that everything was better in the past.
"At my former school they start to give attention at the age of 14 and 15 to the finer techniques, so they are prepared for the ages of 15 and 16 when they have a proper contest in the scrum."
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