I. prop ‧ er 1 S1 W2 /ˈprɒpə $ ˈprɑːpər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: propre , from Latin proprius 'own' ]
1 . [only before noun] right, suitable, or correct:
Everything was in its proper place (=where it should be) .
the proper way to clean your teeth
The proper name for Matthew’s condition is hyperkinetic syndrome.
2 . socially or legally correct and acceptable OPP improper
it is proper (for somebody) to do something
I don’t feel that it would be proper for me to give you that information.
It is only right and proper that an independent inquiry should take place.
3 . [only before noun] British English spoken real, or of a good and generally accepted standard SYN decent, real American English :
When are you going to settle down and get a proper job?
Try to eat proper meals instead of fast-food takeaways.
4 . [only after noun] the real or main part of something, not other parts before, after, or near to it:
The friendly chat which comes before the interview proper is intended to relax the candidate.
the city centre proper
5 . proper to something formal
a) belonging to one particular type of thing:
the reasoning abilities proper to our species
b) suitable for something:
dressed in a way that was proper to the occasion
6 . [only before noun] British English spoken complete SYN real :
He’s made a proper fool of himself this time!
7 . very polite, and careful to do what is socially correct:
She was very formal and proper.
⇨ ↑ properly
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ suitable having the right qualities for a particular purpose or person:
a suitable place for a picnic
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They don’t consider him a suitable husband for their daughter.
▪ right completely suitable in every way:
It’s a nice house, but it isn’t right for us.
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We’ll tell her when the time is right.
▪ appropriate suitable for a particular purpose. Appropriate is more formal than suitable :
She filled out all the appropriate forms.
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It may not be an appropriate time to ask him about it.
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It’s not appropriate to wear a short skirt for an interview.
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the appropriate way to end a business letter
▪ proper the proper tool, piece of equipment, or way of doing something is the one that most people think is most suitable:
You can’t change a wheel without the proper tools.
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the proper procedure for hiring staff
▪ suited to something if someone is suited to something, he or she has the right qualities to do it:
He’d be well suited to the job.
II. proper 2 BrE AmE adverb British English spoken
1 . good and proper completely:
We beat 'em good and proper.
2 . used by some people to mean ↑ properly , although most people think that this is incorrect