proper

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprɒpə/

adjective

  • 1 [attributive] chiefly British denoting something that is truly what it is said or regarded to be; genuine: she’s never had a proper job a proper meal
  • [postpositive] strictly so called; in its true form: after this event, three countries will progress to the World Cup proper
  • informal used as an intensifier, especially in derogatory contexts: a proper little do-gooder, aren’t I?
  • 2 [attributive] of the required or correct type or form; suitable or appropriate: an artist needs the proper tools they had not followed the proper procedures
  • according to or respecting social standards or conventions; respectable, especially excessively so: her parents' view of what was proper for a well-bred girl a very prim and proper Swiss lady
  • 3 (proper to) belonging or relating exclusively or distinctively to; particular to: the two elephant types proper to Africa and to southern Asia
  • (of a psalm, lesson, prayer, etc.) appointed for a particular day, occasion, or season.
  • archaic belonging to oneself or itself; own: to judge with my proper eyes
  • 4 [usually postpositive] Heraldry in the natural colours.
  • 5 archaic or dialect (of a person) good-looking: he is a proper youth!
  • 6 Mathematics denoting a subset or subgroup that does not constitute the entire set or group, especially one that has more than one element.

adverb

British informal or dialect
  • satisfactorily or correctly: my eyes were all blurry and I couldn’t see proper
  • thoroughly: he blotted his copybook good and proper

noun

  • the part of a church service that varies with the season or feast: we go to the High Mass, with plainsong propers sung by the Ritual Choir

Derivatives

properness

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French propre, from Latin proprius 'one's own, special'