proper

proper
1 adjective
1 (only before noun, no comparative) especially BrE right, suitable, or correct: She needs proper medical attention. | Put that back in its proper place. | I went through the proper process, I wrote to my MP.
2 socially or legally correct and acceptable: I don't feel that it would be proper for me to give you that information. | be only (right and) proper: It's only right and proper that Shari apologize for what she said!
3 (only before noun) BrE spoken real: Can't you get a proper job? | Try to eat proper meals instead of chips and baked beans.
4 (only after noun) according to the real, most exact meaning of the word: Monkeys proper only began to evolve thirty five million years ago.
5 proper to sth
a) formal belonging to one particular type of thing: the reasoning abilities proper to our species
b) natural or normal in a particular place or situation: dressed in a way that was proper to the occasion
6 (only before noun) BrE spoken complete: He's made a proper fool of himself this time! | You're in a proper old mess.
7 very polite, and careful to do what is socially correct: Andrew's behaviour was so proper that she couldn't help laughing.
—see also: properly 2 adverb BrE spoken
1 used by some people to mean properly, although most people think that this is incorrect: Why don't you talk proper?
2 good and proper completely: Tom drove the car into a wall and wrecked it good and proper.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Proper — Prop er, a. [OE. propre, F. propre, fr. L. proprius. Cf. {Appropriate}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Belonging to one; one s own; individual. His proper good [i. e., his own possessions]. Chaucer. My proper son. Shak. [1913 Webster] Now learn the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Proper — may refer to:* Proper (liturgy), the part of a Christian liturgy that is specific to the date within the Liturgical Year * Proper frame, such system of reference in which object is stationary (non moving), sometimes also called a co moving frame… …   Wikipedia

  • proper — [präp′ər] adj. [ME propre < OFr < L proprius, one s own] 1. specially adapted or suitable to a specific purpose or specific conditions; appropriate [the proper tool for a job] 2. naturally belonging or peculiar (to) [weather proper to… …   English World dictionary

  • proper — prop·er adj: marked by fitness or correctness; esp: being in accordance with established procedure, law, jurisdiction, or standards of care, fairness, and justice argued that the shareholder was acting in bad faith and lacked a proper purpose for …   Law dictionary

  • proper — Adj sauber erw. fremd. Erkennbar fremd (17. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus frz. propre, das auf l. proprius eigen, eigentümlich zurückgeht.    Ebenso nndl. proper, ne. proper, nschw. proper, nnorw. proper. ✎ DF 2 (1942), 690f.; Jones (1976), 543;… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • proper — [adj1] suitable able, applicable, appropriate, apt, au fait, becoming, befitting, capable, competent, convenient, decent, desired, felicitous, fit, fitting, good, happy, just, legitimate, meet, qualified, right, suited, true, useful; concept 558… …   New thesaurus

  • proper — early 13c., adapted to some purpose, fit, apt, from O.Fr. propre (11c.), from L. proprius one s own, particular to itself, from pro privo for the individual. Proper name belonging to or relating to the person or thing in question, is from late… …   Etymology dictionary

  • proper — Adj. (Oberstufe) ugs.: im Äußeren ordentlich und sauber Synonyme: adrett, gepflegt Beispiele: Ihre Kleidung ist immer sehr proper. Das Zimmer ist proper aufgeräumt …   Extremes Deutsch

  • proper — ► ADJECTIVE 1) truly what something is said or regarded to be; genuine. 2) (after a noun ) strictly so called: the World Cup proper. 3) suitable or appropriate; correct. 4) respectable, especially excessively so. 5) (proper to) belonging or… …   English terms dictionary

  • proper to — formal : belonging to or suited to (something) Are such violent emotions proper to poetry? • • • Main Entry: ↑proper …   Useful english dictionary

  • Proper — Prop er, adv. Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good. [Colloq & Vulgar] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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