Pronunciation: ə - ' pr ō -pr ē - ˌ ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -at · ed ; -at · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, from Latin ad- + proprius own
Date: 15th century
1 : to take exclusive possession of : ANNEX <no one should appropriate a common benefit>
2 : to set apart for or assign to a particular purpose or use < appropriate money for the research program>
3 : to take or make use of without authority or right
– ap · pro · pri · a · ble \ -pr ē - ə -b ə l \ adjective
– ap · pro · pri · a · tor \ -pr ē - ˌ ā -t ə r \ noun