proper

comparative more proper · superlative most proper · alternative Geordie propa · alternative pronunciation spelling propah · alternative pronunciation spelling propuh · alternative obsolete propre

1. Suitable.
   1. Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable.First known use 13th c.

      the proper time to plant potatoes

      2 more examples

      The proper study of mankind is man.

      1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC

      One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination.

      2014 June 14, “It's a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891

      Synonyms: correct, right, apt, prudent, upright, sensible, fitting, allowable · Antonyms: incorrect, wrong, bad, imprudent, insensible, improper, bad, discommensurate

   2. Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous.First known use 18th c.

      a very proper young lady

      2 more examples

      This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.[…]Indeed, all his features were in large mold, like the man himself, as though he had come from a day when skin garments made the proper garb of men.

      1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

      The Nippy became a national icon, symbolic of the girl next door, always approachable and proper; […]

      2014, Paul Chrystal, Tea: A Very British Beverage

      Synonyms: appropriate, decent, good, polite, right, well-mannered, upright, halal · Antonyms: inappropriate, indecent, bad, impolite, wrong, ill-mannered, unseemly, blasphemous

   3. mathematicsSuch that the preimage of every compact set is compact.
   4. mathematicsContinuous, mapping closed sets to closed sets, and such that the preimage of every point is compact.
   5. algebraic geometrySeparated, of finite type, and universally closed.
   6. algebraic geometrySuch that unique morphism from the variety to k is proper (as above).
   7. mathematical analysisSuch that every closed ball is compact.
2. Possessed, related.
   1. grammarUsed to designate a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are usually written with an initial capital letter.First known use 14th c.
   2. Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular.First known use 14th c.

      1829, James Marsh, Preliminary Essay to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Aids to Reflection those higher and peculiar attributes […] which constitute our proper humanity

      1 more example

      They have a proper saint almost for every peculiar infirmity: for poison, gouts, agues[…].

      1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 1, subsection 3

      Synonyms: individual, singular, concrete, discrete, individual, particular, peculiar, singular

   3. postpositionalusuallyIn the strict sense; within the strict definition or core (of a specified place, taxonomic order, idea, etc).

      These are divided into two great families, the vipers proper (Viperidae) and the pit-vipers (Crotalidae).

      1893, Annual of the Universal Medical Sciences

      2 more examples

      Siberia, though it stands outside the territorial confines of Russia proper, constitutes an essentially component part […]. Outer Mongolia, [so called] to distinguish it from Inner Mongolia, which lies nearer to China proper, revolted and declared its independence.

      1976, Eu-Yang Kwang, The political reconstruction of China, page 165

      Hence, this border is still blurred, raising the question whether traumatic life events induce sadness/distress – which is self-evident – or depression proper and, secondly, whether sadness/distress is a precursor or pacemaker of depression.

      2004, Stress, the Brain and Depression, page 24

   4. Belonging to oneself or itself; own.First known use 14th c.

      proper motion — proper left — proper right

      4 more examples

      a man so bold That dares do justice on my proper son

      c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

      Now learn the difference, at your proper cost, / Betwixt true valour and an empty boast.

      1717, John Dryden, Meleager and Atalanta

      every country, and more than that, every private place, hath his proper remedies growing in it, particular almost to the domineering and most frequent maladies of it.

      1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 4, member 2, subsection 1

      Each animal has its proper pleasure, and the proper pleasure of man is connected with reason.

      1946, Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, I.20

   5. governmentPortrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures.First known use 16th c.
   6. mathematicsBeing strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself.First known use 20th c.

      proper subset — proper ideal

   7. mathematicsEigen-; designating a function or value which is an eigenfunction or eigenvalue.First known use 20th c.
3. Accurate, strictly applied.
   1. Excellent, of high quality; such as the specific person or thing should ideally be. (Now often merged with later senses.)First known use 14th c.

      Now that was a proper breakfast.

      Synonyms: comprehensive, royal, sweeping, intensive · Antonyms: partial, incomplete, superficial, slapdash

   2. regionalAttractive, elegant.First known use 14th c.

      The same tyme was Moses borne, and was a propper [translating ἀστεῖος (asteîos)] childe in the sight of God, which was norisshed up in his fathers housse thre monethes.

      1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts vij

   3. oftenpostpositionalIn the very strictest sense of the word.First known use 14th c.

      Though unusual in the Dublin area he knew that it was not by any means unknown for desperadoes who had next to nothing to live on to be abroad waylaying and generally terrorising peaceable pedestrians by placing a pistol at their head in some secluded spot outside the city proper[…].

      1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 16]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

      Synonyms: strictly speaking, properly speaking, par excellence

   4. Including only the core areas while excluding surrounding suburbs.
   5. colloquialUtter, complete.First known use 15th c.

      When I realized I was wearing my shirt inside out, I felt a proper fool.

      Synonyms: complete, right, total, utter, abject, frightful, absolute, prize

   6. mathematicsNot being a set.

alternative Geordie propa · alternative pronunciation spelling propah · alternative pronunciation spelling propuh · alternative obsolete propre

1. IrelandUKcolloquialnot comparableProperly; thoroughly; completely.

   The kid towelled him up proper.

   1957, Ray Lawler, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Sydney: Fontana Books, published 1974, page 32

   3 more examples

   'I thought it was the American Associated Press.' 'Oh, they are on the track, are they?' 'They to-day, and the Times yesterday. Oh, they are buzzing round proper.'

   1929, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, When the World Screamed

   “Christmas Eve,” said Nabby Adams. “I used to pump the bloody organ for the carols, proper pissed usually.”

   1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 202

   Don't you think you must have looked proper daft?

   1964, Saint Andrew Society (Glasgow, Scotland), The Scots magazine: Volume 82

2. colloquialnonstandardnot comparableProperly.

   "But it's not many of us as can make 'em proper."

   1988, Mary Steele, Mallyroot's Pub at Misery Ponds, Ringwood: Puffin Books, page 68

   1 more example

   When I meet a bad chick, know I gotta tell her hello talk real proper, but she straight up out the ghetto

   2012, Latta, Soufside, Hello (song)

plural propers · alternative Geordie propa · alternative pronunciation spelling propah · alternative pronunciation spelling propuh · alternative obsolete propre

1. obsoleteSomething set apart for a special use.
2. ChristianityA part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date.

plural Propers

1. A surname.

   According to court records, the mother’s action led to the arrest of 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Danville on June 10.

   2026 June 17, Katie Millard, “Who is Tycen Proper, the Ohio man accused of plotting an attack at the White House?”, in NBC4i