proper

English Online Dictionary. What means proper‎? What does proper mean?

English

Alternative forms

• propa (Geordie)
• propre (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɔp.ə/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒp.ə(ɹ)/
• (US) enPR: präpʹər, IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑ.pɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɒpə(ɹ)
• Homophone: propper
• Hyphenation: prop‧er

Adjective

proper (comparative more proper, superlative most proper)

1. Suitable.
   1. Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable. [13th c.]
   2. Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous. [18th c.]
   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 ${displaystyle k}$) such that unique morphism from the variety to ${displaystyle k}$ 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.]
      • , 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).
      • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:proper.
   4. Belonging to oneself or itself; own. [14th c.]
      • , 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.
   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.]

   2. (now regional) Attractive, elegant. [14th c.]
   3. (often postpositive) In the very strictest sense of the word. [14th c.]
   4. (now colloquial) Utter, complete. [15th c.]

   5. (set theory, of a class) Not being a set.

Synonyms

• (fit, suitable): correct, right, apt, prudent, upright, sensible, fitting
• (correct, decorous): appropriate, decent, good, polite, right, well-mannered, upright
• (fitting, right): appropriate, just, honorable
• (complete, thorough): comprehensive, royal, sweeping, intensive
• (strictly, properly-speaking): strictly speaking, properly speaking, par excellence
• (true): full, complete
• (informal: utter): complete, right (informal), total, utter

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “fit, suitable”): incorrect, wrong, bad, imprudent, insensible, improper
• (antonym(s) of “correct, decorous”): inappropriate, indecent, bad, impolite, wrong, ill-mannered, unseemly
• (antonym(s) of “fitting, right”): inappropriate, unjust, dishonorable
• (antonym(s) of “complete, thorough”): partial, incomplete, superficial, slapdash
• (antonym(s) of “true”): incomplete

Derived terms

Related terms

• appropriate
• propriety
• properly

Translations

Adverb

proper (not comparable)

1. (UK, Ireland, colloquial) properly; thoroughly; completely.
   • 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.
   • 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)

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

• per pro, propre

Catalan

Etymology

From prop +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [pɾuˈpe]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [pɾoˈpe]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [pɾoˈpeɾ]

Adjective

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

1. near, close

   Synonym: pròxim

2. neighbouring
3. next

   Synonym: següent

Synonyms

• (the coming day, week, year etc.): que ve, venint

Related terms

• prop

Further reading

• “proper” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈpropɛr]

Verb

proper

1. second-person singular imperative of proprat

Danish

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /proːbər/, [ˈpʰʁ̥oːˀb̥ɐ]

Adjective

proper

1. cleanly
2. tidy

Inflection

Derived terms

• properhed ("cleanliness", "tidiness")

References

• “proper” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

proper (comparative properder, superlative properst)

1. (chiefly Belgium) clean

Declension

Synonyms

• netjes, rein, zindelijk
• (Netherlands) schoon

German

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈpʁɔpɐ/

Adjective

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

1. (somewhat informal, dated) in good condition: clean; neat; well-kept; developed

2. (colloquial, euphemistic) overweight; chubby

Declension

Further reading

• “proper” in Duden online
• “proper” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Old French

Adjective

proper m (oblique and nominative feminine singular proper)

1. (rare) Alternative form of propre

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

Swedish

Adjective

proper (comparative proprare, superlative proprast)

1. neat, tidy

   Synonym: välvårdad

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

Declension

References

• proper in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• proper in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• proper in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)