[pro.pri.e.tary] n, pl -tar.ies (15c) 1: one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something; specif: proprietor 1
2: something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specif: a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
3: a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization
[2]proprietary adj [LL proprietarius, fr. L proprietas property--more at property] (1589) 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of a proprietor "~ rights"
2: used, made, or marketed by one having the exclusive legal right "a ~ process"
3: privately owned and managed and run as a profit-making organization "a ~ clinic"