I. prəˈprīəterē, prōˈ-, -ri, by r- dissimilation pəˈ- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English proprietarie, from Late Latin proprietarius, from proprietarius, adjective
1. : one who has exclusive title to a thing : one who possesses the ownership of a thing in his own right : proprietor , owner ; specifically : an owner or grantee of a proprietary colony
2.
[Middle English proprietarie, from Medieval Latin proprietarius, from Late Latin]
obsolete : a monk holding property in violation of his vow of poverty
3.
a. : a privately owned piece of property
b. : proprietary company
4. : right of property : ownership
5. : a body of proprietors
6.
[ proprietary (II) ]
a. : a drug that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
b. : an ethical drug
c. : a nonprescription drug or medicine designed for self-medication and required to be accompanied by a list of all active ingredients and directions for safe use
aspirin is a proprietary
II. adjective
Etymology: Late Latin proprietarius, from Latin proprietas property + -arius -ary — more at property
1.
a. : held as the property of a private owner
proprietary right of manufacture
: relating or belonging to a proprietor
proprietary control of mineral resources
proprietary government
b. : characteristic of or appropriate to an owner
the lawyers' … normal proprietary feeling about the law courts — Walter Goodman
2. : made and marketed by a person or persons having the exclusive right to manufacture and sell
proprietary baby food
proprietary medicine
3. : privately owned and managed usually without public control or supervision
in the 19th century there were many proprietary medical schools in America
proprietary hospital