— properly , adv. — properness , n.
/prop"euhr/ , adj.
1. adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; fit; suitable: the proper time to plant strawberries.
2. conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous: a very proper young man.
3. fitting; right: It was only proper to bring a gift.
4. strictly belonging or applicable: the proper place for a stove.
5. belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
6. strict; accurate.
7. in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively): Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
8. Gram.
a. (of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
b. having the force or function of a proper name: a proper adjective.
9. normal or regular.
10. belonging to oneself or itself; own.
11. Chiefly Brit. Informal. complete or thorough: a proper thrashing.
12. Eccles. used only on a particular day or festival: the proper introit.
13. Heraldry. (of a device) depicted in its natural colors: an oak tree proper.
14. Informal.
a. excellent; capital; fine.
b. good-looking or handsome.
15. Math. (of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
16. Archaic. of good character; respectable.
adv.
17. Informal. thoroughly; completely.
n.
18. Eccles. a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.
[ 1250-1300; ME propre proprius one's own ]
Syn. 1. suited. 2, 3 . meet, befitting, becoming, decent, polite. 5. special, individual, peculiar. 6. precise, exact, just, formal.