Proper
/ˈprɒp.ər/noun
Suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose, person, or situation; also, belonging especially or exclusively to something.
Did you know?The same Latin root behind **proper** also gave English **property** and **appropriate**—all built around the ancient idea of something being taken, assigned, or made one’s own.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
proprius
“one's own, special, particular”
Late Latin
Latin
propriare
“to make one's own; to take as one's own”
Old French
Old French
propre
“own, special, suitable”
Middle English
English
proper
“belonging to one; one's own; suitable”
Modern English
English
proper
“suitable, correct, or belonging especially to something”
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