proper motion

noun

The change in apparent position of a celestial body due to that body's velocity relative to the Sun.

OriginLatin proprius →
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Meanings

nounproper motion (plural proper motions)

plural proper motions

  1. astronomyThe change in apparent position of a celestial body due to that body's velocity relative to the Sun.

Origin

  1. Latinproprius
  2. Englishproper motion

proper (in the sense of "its own") + motion; from Latin proprius.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

proper motion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20motion

MLA

“proper motion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20motion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proper motion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20motion.

Source: proper motion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.