proper

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled propre

US /ˈprɑpɚ/ UK /ˈpɹɒp.ə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #2004

Meanings

1

adj
Right, suitable, or correct for a particular situation.

Put everything back in its proper place.
2

adj
Real or genuine, having all the expected qualities.

Now that was a proper breakfast!
3

adv
Thoroughly or completely (informal).

The reporters were buzzing round proper after the story broke.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · right, suitable, or correct... right appropriate correct suitable

Word family

Derived forms nonproperpropernesspropertypseudopropersubpropersuperproperunproper

Related forms appropriate properly propriety

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

proper care
The correct, appropriate level of attention needed to maintain something in good condition.

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

The proper study of mankind is Man

Etymology

From Middle English propre, from Anglo-Norman proper, propre, Old French propre (French: propre), from Latin proprius.

*preyH- Proto-Indo-European propre Middle English proper xno proprius Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Register & Style

External links

# proper

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈprɑpɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɹɒp.ə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 2004

## Meanings
1. Right, suitable, or correct for a particular situation.
2. Real or genuine, having all the expected qualities.
3. Thoroughly or completely (informal).

## Examples
- Put everything back in its proper place.
- Now that was a proper breakfast!
- The reporters were buzzing round proper after the story broke.

## Derived Forms
- nonproper
- properness
- property
- pseudoproper
- subproper
- superproper
- unproper

## Related Forms
- appropriate
- properly
- propriety

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *preyH-
- Root: propre
- Root: proper
- Root: proprius

## Etymology
From Middle English propre, from Anglo-Norman proper, propre, Old French propre (French: propre), from Latin proprius.

## AI Etymology
Proper comes from Middle English propre, from Anglo-Norman proper, propre, Old French propre (French: propre), from Latin proprius. The historical chain includes *preyH- (Proto-Indo-European), propre (Middle English), proper (xno), propre (Old French), proprius (Latin). In present-day English it covers right, suitable, or correct for a particular situation, real or genuine, having all the expected qualities, and thoroughly or completely (informal). The wider family includes derived forms such as nonproper, properness, property, pseudoproper, subproper and related forms such as appropriate, properly, propriety.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Register & Style

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