proper

[prop-er] /ˈprɒp ər/
adjective
1.
adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; fit; suitable:
the proper time to plant strawberries.
2.
conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous:
a very proper young man.
3.
fitting; right:
It was only proper to bring a gift.
4.
strictly belonging or applicable:
the proper place for a stove.
5.
belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
6.
strict; accurate.
7.
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?
8.
Grammar.
  1. (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.
  2. having the force or function of a proper name:
    a proper adjective.
9.
normal or regular.
10.
belonging to oneself or itself; own.
11.
Chiefly British Informal. complete or thorough:
a proper thrashing.
12.
Ecclesiastical. used only on a particular day or festival:
the proper introit.
13.
Heraldry. (of a device) depicted in its natural colors:
an oak tree proper.
14.
Informal.
  1. excellent; capital; fine.
  2. good-looking or handsome.
15.
Mathematics. (of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
16.
Archaic. of good character; respectable.
adverb
17.
Informal. thoroughly; completely.
noun
18.
Ecclesiastical. a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English propre < Old French < Latin proprius one's own
Related forms
properly, adverb
properness, noun
unproper, adjective
unproperly, adverb
Synonyms
1. suited. 2, 3. meet, befitting, becoming, decent, polite. 5. special, individual, peculiar. 6. precise, exact, just, formal.
Examples from the web for properly
  • It's almost impossible to maintain a house properly without one.
  • Others don't properly proofread their submissions, or they send far more material than was requested.
  • Pension systems in rich countries are not working properly.
  • The larger group of these insects is more properly called the praying mantids.
  • One day he forgot to vent some of his bottles properly and they blew up.
  • If you notice leaks in the system, either at the fittings or emitters, make sure the tubing is properly fitted.
  • Ennui is a cognitive gift, but it must be properly unlocked.
  • Videotaping at factory farms wouldn't be necessary if the industry were properly regulated.
  • Closed captioning for deaf users was not properly supported.
  • Handlers' expectations may be stopping sniffer dogs doing their jobs properly.
British Dictionary definitions for properly

proper

/ˈprɒpə/
adjective
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.
(postpositive) foll by to. belonging to or characteristic of a person or thing
7.
(prenominal) (Brit, informal) (intensifier): I felt a proper fool
8.
(usually postpositive) (of heraldic colours) considered correct for the natural colour of the object or emblem depicted: three martlets proper
9.
(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 (sense 6)
10.
(archaic) pleasant or good
adverb
11.
(Brit, dialect) (intensifier): he's proper stupid
12.
(informal) good and proper, thoroughly: to get drunk good and proper
noun
13.
the parts of the Mass that vary according to the particular day or feast on which the Mass is celebrated Compare ordinary (sense 10)
Derived Forms
properly, adverb
properness, noun
Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin prōprius special
Word Origin and History for properly

proper

adj.

c.1300, "adapted to some purpose, fit, apt; commendable, excellent" (sometimes ironic), from Old French propre "own, particular; exact, neat, fitting, appropriate" (11c.), from Latin proprius "one's own, particular to itself," from pro privo "for the individual, in particular," from ablative of privus "one's own, individual" (see private (adj.)) + pro "for" (see pro-). Related: Properly.

From early 14c. as "belonging or pertaining to oneself; individual; intrinsic;" from mid-14c. as "pertaining to a person or thing in particular, special, specific; distinctive, characteristic;" also "what is by the rules, correct, appropriate, acceptable." From early 15c. as "separate, distinct; itself." Meaning "socially appropriate, decent, respectable" is first recorded 1704. Proper name "name belonging to or relating to the person or thing in question," is from late 13c., a sense also preserved in astronomical proper motion (c.1300). Proper noun is from c.1500.