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proper

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Proper and pro per

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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
Anglo-Norman propre bor.
Middle English propre
English proper

    From Middle English propre , from Anglo-Norman proper , propre , Old French propre (French: propre ), from Latin proprius .

    Pronunciation

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    Adjective

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    proper (comparative more proper, superlative most proper)

    1. Suitable.
      1. Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable. [13th c.]
        Synonyms: correct , right , apt , prudent , upright , sensible , fitting ; see also Thesaurus:suitable
        Antonyms: incorrect , wrong , bad , imprudent , insensible , improper ; see also Thesaurus:unsuitable
        the proper time to plant potatoes
        • 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. [...] , (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: [...] J[ohn] Wilford, [...], →OCLC:
          The proper study of mankind is man.
        • 2014 June 14, "It's a gas", in The Economist , volume 411, number 8891:
          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.
      2. Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous. [18th c.]
        Synonyms: appropriate , decent , good , polite , right , well-mannered , upright ; see also Thesaurus:orthodox, Thesaurus:virtuous
        Antonyms: inappropriate , indecent , bad , impolite , wrong , ill-mannered , unseemly ; see also Thesaurus:unorthodox, Thesaurus:immoral
        a very proper young lady
        • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
          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.
        • 2014, Paul Chrystal, Tea: A Very British Beverage:
          The Nippy became a national icon, symbolic of the girl next door, always approachable and proper; [...]
      3. (topology , of a function ) Such that the preimage of every compact set is compact.
      4. (topology , of a function ) Continuous, mapping closed sets to closed sets, and such that the preimage of every point is compact.
      5. (algebraic geometry , of a morphism of schemes ) Separated, of finite type, and universally closed.
      6. (algebraic geometry , of a variety over a field k) Such that unique morphism from the variety to k is proper (as above).
      7. (mathematical analysis , of a metric space ) Such that every closed ball is compact.
    2. Possessed, related.
      1. (grammar ) Used to designate a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are usually written with an initial capital letter. [14th c.]
      2. Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular. [14th c.]
        Synonyms: individual , singular ; see also Thesaurus:specific
        • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: [...], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: [...] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 1, subsection 3:
          They have a proper saint almost for every peculiar infirmity: for poison, gouts, agues [...].
        • 1829, James Marsh, Preliminary Essay to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Aids to Reflection
          those higher and peculiar attributes [...] which constitute our proper humanity
      3. (usually postpositive ) In the strict sense; within the strict definition or core (of a specified place, taxonomic order, idea, etc).
        • 1893, Annual of the Universal Medical Sciences:
          These are divided into two great families, the vipers proper (Viperidae) and the pit-vipers (Crotalidae).
        • 1976, Eu-Yang Kwang, The political reconstruction of China, page 165:
          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.
        • 2004, Stress, the Brain and Depression, page 24:
          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.
        • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:proper.
      4. Belonging to oneself or itself; own. [14th c.]
      5. (heraldry ) Portrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures. [16th c.]
      6. (mathematics ) Being strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself. [20th c.]
      7. (mathematics , physics ) Eigen-; designating a function or value which is an eigenfunction or eigenvalue. [20th c.]
    3. Accurate, strictly applied.
      1. Excellent, of high quality; such as the specific person or thing should ideally be. (Now often merged with later senses.) [14th c.]
        Synonyms: comprehensive , royal , sweeping , intensive
        Antonyms: partial , incomplete , superficial , slapdash
        Now that was a proper breakfast.
      2. (now regional ) Attractive, elegant. [14th c.]
      3. (often postpositive ) In the very strictest sense of the word. [14th c.]
        Synonyms: strictly speaking , properly speaking , par excellence
        • 1922 February 2, James Joyce, "[Episode 16]", in Ulysses , Paris: Shakespeare and Company  [...], →OCLC:
          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 [...].
      4. (of a city or town ) Including only the core areas while excluding surrounding suburbs.
      5. (now colloquial ) Utter, complete. [15th c.]
        Synonyms: complete , right , total , utter ; see also Thesaurus:total
        When I realized I was wearing my shirt inside out, I felt a proper fool.
      6. (set theory , of a class ) Not being a set.

    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    fit, suitable — see also adequate
    following the established standards of behavior or manners — see also convenient,‎ precise,‎ erudite,‎ cultured,‎ educated,‎ formal,‎ correct
    in the very strictest sense of the word
    grammar: designating a particular person, place or thing
    belonging to oneself or itself, own
    complete, thorough
    entitled to its name, true
    heraldry: having its natural or usual coloration
    informal: utter
    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
    Translations to be checked‌: "right or correct"

    Adverb

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    proper (not comparable )

    1. (UK , Ireland , colloquial ) Properly; thoroughly; completely.
      • 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed‎[1] :
        '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.'
      • 1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 202:
        "Christmas Eve," said Nabby Adams. "I used to pump the bloody organ for the carols, proper pissed usually."
      • 1957, Ray Lawler, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Sydney: Fontana Books, published 1974, page 32:
        The kid towelled him up proper.
      • 1964, Saint Andrew Society (Glasgow, Scotland), The Scots magazine: Volume 82
        Don't you think you must have looked proper daft?
    2. (nonstandard , colloquial ) Properly.
      • 1988, Mary Steele, Mallyroot's Pub at Misery Ponds, Ringwood: Puffin Books, page 68:
        "But it's not many of us as can make 'em proper."
      • 2012, Latta, Soufside, Hello (song)
        When I meet a bad chick, know I gotta tell her hello
        talk real proper, but she straight up out the ghetto

    Noun

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    proper (plural propers )

    1. (obsolete ) Something set apart for a special use.
    2. (Christianity ) A part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date.
      Coordinate term: ordinary (noun)

    Anagrams

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    Catalan

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    Etymology

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      From prop +‎ -er .

      Pronunciation

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      Adjective

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      proper (feminine propera , masculine plural propers , feminine plural properes )

      1. near, close
        Synonym: pròxim
      2. neighbouring
      3. next
        Synonym: següent

      Synonyms

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      Further reading

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      Czech

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      Pronunciation

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      Verb

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      proper

      1. second-person singular imperative of proprat

      Danish

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      Etymology

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      Borrowed from French propre ("clean, house-trained, own"), from Latin proprius ("own").

      Pronunciation

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      • IPA (key): /proːbər/, [ˈphʁ̥oːˀb̥ɐ]

      Adjective

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      proper

      1. cleanly
      2. tidy

      Inflection

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      Inflection of proper
      positive comparative superlative
      indefinite common singular proper — —2
      indefinite neuter singular propert — —2
      plural propre — —2
      definite attributive1 propre — —

      1 When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite,
      the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
      2 The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

      Derived terms

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      References

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      Dutch

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      Etymology

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      From Middle Dutch proper , from Old French propre , from Latin proprius .

      Pronunciation

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      • IPA (key): /ˈproː.pər/
      • Audio: (file)
      • Hyphenation: pro‧per

      Adjective

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      proper (comparative properder , superlative properst )

      1. (chiefly Belgium ) clean

      Declension

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      Declension of proper
      uninflected proper
      inflected propere
      comparative properder
      positive comparative superlative
      predicative/adverbial proper properder het properst
      het properste
      indefinite m./f. sing. propere properdere properste
      n. sing. proper properder properste
      plural propere properdere properste
      definite propere properdere properste
      partitive propers properders —

      Synonyms

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      German

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      Etymology

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      Ultimately from Old French propre , from Latin proprius . Probably borrowed in north-western dialects via Middle Dutch proper [13th c., sense: 15th c.], later generalized under the influence of modern French propre . The colloquial euphemism for "chubby" may, in part, be due to association with Proppen (whence also proppenvoll and Wonneproppen ).

      Pronunciation

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      Adjective

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      proper (strong nominative masculine singular properer , comparative properer , superlative am propersten )

      1. (somewhat informal , dated ) in good condition: clean; neat; well-kept; developed
        Bis vor kurzem herrschte hier bittere Armut, aber jetzt ist es ein ganz properes Städtchen geworden.
        Until recently bitter poverty prevailed around here, but now it’s become rather a neat little town.
      2. (colloquial , euphemistic ) overweight; chubby
        Die Linda war doch immer so’ne Schlanke, aber jetzt sieht sie ziemlich proper aus.
        Linda was always a slender one, but now she looks pretty chubby.

      Declension

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      Positive forms of proper
      number & gender singular plural
      masculine feminine neuter
      predicative er ist proper sie ist proper es ist proper sie sind proper
      strong declension
      (without article)       		nominative properer propere properes propere
      genitive properen properer properen properer
      dative properem properer properem properen
      accusative properen propere properes propere
      weak declension
      (with definite article)       		nominative der propere die propere das propere die properen
      genitive des properen der properen des properen der properen
      dative dem properen der properen dem properen den properen
      accusative den properen die propere das propere die properen
      mixed declension
      (with indefinite article)       		nominative ein properer eine propere ein properes (keine) properen
      genitive eines properen einer properen eines properen (keiner) properen
      dative einem properen einer properen einem properen (keinen) properen
      accusative einen properen eine propere ein properes (keine) properen
      Comparative forms of proper
      number & gender singular plural
      masculine feminine neuter
      predicative er ist properer sie ist properer es ist properer sie sind properer
      strong declension
      (without article)       		nominative propererer properere propereres properere
      genitive propereren propererer propereren propererer
      dative propererem propererer propererem propereren
      accusative propereren properere propereres properere
      weak declension
      (with definite article)       		nominative der properere die properere das properere die propereren
      genitive des propereren der propereren des propereren der propereren
      dative dem propereren der propereren dem propereren den propereren
      accusative den propereren die properere das properere die propereren
      mixed declension
      (with indefinite article)       		nominative ein propererer eine properere ein propereres (keine) propereren
      genitive eines propereren einer propereren eines propereren (keiner) propereren
      dative einem propereren einer propereren einem propereren (keinen) propereren
      accusative einen propereren eine properere ein propereres (keine) propereren
      Superlative forms of proper
      number & gender singular plural
      masculine feminine neuter
      predicative er ist am propersten sie ist am propersten es ist am propersten sie sind am propersten
      strong declension
      (without article)       		nominative properster properste properstes properste
      genitive propersten properster propersten properster
      dative properstem properster properstem propersten
      accusative propersten properste properstes properste
      weak declension
      (with definite article)       		nominative der properste die properste das properste die propersten
      genitive des propersten der propersten des propersten der propersten
      dative dem propersten der propersten dem propersten den propersten
      accusative den propersten die properste das properste die propersten
      mixed declension
      (with indefinite article)       		nominative ein properster eine properste ein properstes (keine) propersten
      genitive eines propersten einer propersten eines propersten (keiner) propersten
      dative einem propersten einer propersten einem propersten (keinen) propersten
      accusative einen propersten eine properste ein properstes (keine) propersten

      Further reading

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      • "proper" in Duden online
      • "proper", in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[2] (in German)

      Old French

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      Adjective

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      proper m (feminine proper)

      1. (rare ) alternative form of propre
        Or a mai entendez Ki proper volunté amez, Set Pechez 70

      Swedish

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      Adjective

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      proper (comparative proprare , superlative proprast )

      1. neat, tidy
        Synonym: välvårdad
      2. proper (following (strict) established social standards)
        en proper tillställning
        a proper event

      Declension

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      Inflection of proper
      Indefinite positive comparative superlative1
      common singular proper proprare proprast
      neuter singular propert proprare proprast
      plural propra proprare proprast
      masculine plural2 propre proprare proprast
      Definite positive comparative superlative
      masculine singular3 propre proprare propraste
      all propra proprare propraste

      1 The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative.
      2 Dated or archaic.
      3 Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.

      References

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