Alternative forms

• propa (Geordie)
• propre (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#PROPERCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#PROPER propre, from Anglo-NormanCategory:English terms derived from Anglo-Norman#PROPER proper, propre, Old FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Old French#PROPER propre (French: propre), from LatinCategory:English terms derived from Latin#PROPER proprius.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒpə/Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• (General American, dialects of Canada) enPR: präpʹər, IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑpɚ/Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#PROPER
• (Canada, dialects of the US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒpɚ/Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• (Standard Southern British, General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɔpə/Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒpə/, [ˈpɹɔ̟pə]Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• (Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˈpɾɔpəɾ/Category:English 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• Homophone: propperCategory:English terms with homophones#PROPER
• Hyphenation: prop‧er
• Rhymes: -ɒpə(ɹ)Category:Rhymes:English/ɒpə(ɹ)#PROPERCategory:Rhymes:English/ɒpə(ɹ)/2 syllables#PROPER

Adjective

proper (comparative more proper, superlative most proper)Category:English lemmas#PROPERCategory:English adjectives#PROPERCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#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 potatoesCategory:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

      • 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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

      • 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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

   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 ladyCategory:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

      • 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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

      • 2014, Paul Chrystal, Tea: A Very British Beverage:

        The Nippy became a national icon, symbolic of the girl next door, always approachable and proper; […]

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   3. (topologyCategory:en:Topology#PROPER, of a function) Such that the preimage of every compact set is compact.
   4. (topologyCategory:en:Topology#PROPER, of a function) Continuous, mapping closed sets to closed sets, and such that the preimage of every point is compact.
   5. (algebraic geometryCategory:en:Algebraic geometry#PROPER, of a morphism of schemes) Separated, of finite type, and universally closed.
   6. (algebraic geometryCategory:en:Algebraic geometry#PROPER, of a variety over a field ${\displaystyle k}$) Such that unique morphism from the variety to ${\displaystyle k}$ is proper (as above).
   7. (mathematical analysisCategory:en:Mathematical analysis#PROPER, of a metric space) Such that every closed ball is compact.
2. Possessed, related.
   1. (grammarCategory:en:Grammar#PROPER) 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:
        , II.1.3:

        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).

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
      • 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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
      • 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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
      • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:proper.
   4. Belonging to oneself or itself; own. [14th c.]

      proper motion — proper left — proper rightCategory:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

      • 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]:

        a man so bold
        That dares do justice on my proper son

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

      • 1717, John Dryden, Meleager and Atalanta:

        Now learn the difference, at your proper cost, / Betwixt true valour and an empty boast.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
      • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
        , II.4.1.ii:

        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.

      • 1946, Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, I.20:

        Each animal has its proper pleasure, and the proper pleasure of man is connected with reason.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

        Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   5. (heraldryCategory:en:Heraldry#PROPER) Portrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures. [16th c.]
   6. (mathematicsCategory:en:Mathematics#PROPER) Being strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself. [20th c.]

      proper subset — proper idealCategory:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

   7. (mathematicsCategory:en:Mathematics#PROPER, physicsCategory:en:Physics#PROPER) 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.Category:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

   2. (now regionalCategory:Regional English#PROPER) Attractive, elegant. [14th c.]
      • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts vij:

        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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

   3. (often postpositive) In the very strictest sense of the word. [14th c.]

      Synonyms: strictly speaking, properly speaking, par excellence

      • 1922 February, 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 […].

        Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

   4. (of a city or town) Including only the core areas while excluding surrounding suburbs
   5. (now colloquialCategory:English colloquialisms#PROPER) 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.Category:English terms with usage examples#PROPER

   6. (set theoryCategory:en:Set theory#PROPER, of a class) Not being a set.

Adverb

proper (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#PROPERCategory:English adverbs#PROPERCategory:English uncomparable adverbs#PROPERCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. (UKCategory:British English#PROPER, IrelandCategory:Irish English#PROPER, colloquialCategory:English colloquialisms#PROPER) properly; thoroughly; completely.
   • 1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed‎:

     '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.'

     Category:English terms with quotations#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.”

     Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

   • 1957, Ray Lawler, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Sydney: Fontana Books, published 1974, page 32:

     The kid towelled him up proper.

     Category:English terms with quotations#PROPER

   • 1964, Saint Andrew Society (Glasgow, Scotland), The Scots magazine: Volume 82

     Don't you think you must have looked proper daft?

2. (nonstandardCategory:English nonstandard terms#PROPER, colloquialCategory:English colloquialisms#PROPER) 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."

     Category:English terms with quotations#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

proper (plural propers)Category:English lemmas#PROPERCategory:English nouns#PROPERCategory:English countable nouns#PROPERCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#PROPER) Something set apart for a special use.
2. (ChristianityCategory:en:Christianity#PROPER) A part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date.

   Coordinate term: ordinary (noun)

Anagrams

• per pro, propre

Etymology

From prop +‎ -erCategory:Catalan terms suffixed with -er#PROPER.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [pɾuˈpe]Category:Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [pɾoˈpe]Category:Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [pɾoˈpeɾ]Category:Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

  Category:Catalan terms with audio pronunciation#PROPER

Adjective

proper (feminine propera, masculine plural propers, feminine plural properes)Category:Catalan lemmas#PROPERCategory:Catalan adjectives#PROPERCategory:Catalan entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. near, close

   Synonym: pròxim

2. neighbouring
3. next

   Synonym: següent

Further reading

• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “proper”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpropɛr]Category:Czech terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

Verb

properCategory:Czech non-lemma forms#PROPERCategory:Czech verb forms#PROPERCategory:Czech entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. second-person singular imperative of proprat

Etymology

Borrowed from FrenchCategory:Danish terms borrowed from French#PROPERCategory:Danish terms derived from French#PROPER propre (“clean, house-trained, own”), from LatinCategory:Danish terms derived from Latin#PROPER proprius (“own”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /proːbər/, [ˈpʰʁ̥oːˀb̥ɐ]Category:Danish terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

Adjective

properCategory:Danish lemmas#PROPERCategory:Danish adjectives#PROPERCategory:Danish entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. cleanly
2. tidy

References

• “proper” in Den Danske Ordbog

Etymology

From Middle DutchCategory:Dutch terms inherited from Middle Dutch#PROPERCategory:Dutch terms derived from Middle Dutch#PROPER proper, from Old FrenchCategory:Dutch terms derived from Old French#PROPER propre, from LatinCategory:Dutch terms derived from Latin#PROPER proprius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈproː.pər/Category:Dutch terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

• Audio:

  (file)

  Category:Dutch terms with audio pronunciation#PROPER
• Hyphenation: pro‧per

Adjective

proper (comparative properder, superlative properst)Category:Dutch lemmas#PROPERCategory:Dutch adjectives#PROPERCategory:Dutch adjectives with red links in their headword lines#PROPERCategory:Dutch entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. (chiefly BelgiumCategory:Belgian Dutch#PROPER) clean

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʁɔpɐ/Category:German 2-syllable words#PROPERCategory:German terms with IPA pronunciation#PROPER

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

  Category:German terms with audio pronunciation#PROPER

Adjective

proper (strong nominative masculine singular properer, comparative properer, superlative am propersten)Category:German lemmas#PROPERCategory:German adjectives#PROPERCategory:German entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. (somewhat informalCategory:German informal terms#PROPER, datedCategory:German dated terms#PROPER) 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.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#PROPER

2. (colloquialCategory:German colloquialisms#PROPER, euphemisticCategory:German euphemisms#PROPER) 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.

   Category:German terms with usage examples#PROPER

Further reading

• “proper” in Duden online
• “proper”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎ (in German)

Adjective

proper m (oblique and nominative feminine singular proper)Category:Old French lemmas#PROPERCategory:Old French adjectives#PROPERCategory:Old French entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. (rareCategory:Old French terms with rare senses#PROPER) alternative form of propre

   Or a mai entendez Ki proper volunté amez, Set Pechez 70

Adjective

proper (comparative proprare, superlative proprast)Category:Swedish lemmas#PROPERCategory:Swedish adjectives#PROPERCategory:Swedish entries with incorrect language header#PROPERCategory:Pages with entries#PROPERCategory:Pages with 8 entries#PROPER

1. neat, tidy

   Synonym: välvårdad

2. proper (following (strict) established social standards)

   en proper tillställning

   a proper event

   Category:Swedish terms with usage examples#PROPER

References

• “proper”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “proper”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “proper”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)