proper
adj
1 usually prenominal appropriate or suited for some purpose
in its proper place
2 correct in behaviour or conduct
3 excessively correct in conduct; vigorously moral
4 up to a required or regular standard
5 immediately postpositive (of an object, quality, etc.) referred to or named specifically so as to exclude anything not directly connected with it
his claim is connected with the deed proper
6 postpositive; foll by: to belonging to or characteristic of a person or thing
7 prenominal (Brit)
informal (intensifier)
I felt a proper fool
8 usually postpositive (of heraldic colours) considered correct for the natural colour of the object or emblem depicted
three martlets proper
9 (Maths, logic) (of a relation) distinguished from a weaker relation by excluding the case where the relata are identical. For example, every set is a subset of itself, but a proper subset must exclude at least one member of the containing set
See also →
strict →
6
10 Archaic pleasant or good
adv
11 (Brit)
dialect (intensifier)
he's proper stupid
12 ♦
good and proper
Informal thoroughly
to get drunk good and proper
n
13 the parts of the Mass that vary according to the particular day or feast on which the Mass is celebrated Compare →
ordinary →
10 (C13: via Old French from Latin proprius special) ♦
properly adv ♦
properness n
proper fraction
n a fraction in which the numerator has a lower absolute value than the denominator, as ½ or x/(3 + x2)
proper motion
n the very small continuous change in the direction of motion of a star relative to the sun. It is determined from its radial and tangential motion
proper noun , name
n the name of a person, place, or object, as for example Iceland, Patrick, or Uranus
Compare →
common noun
Related adj →
onomastic
