proper: [13] Proper originally meant ‘belonging to itself, particular to itself’ (a sense now defunct in English except in certain fossilized contexts, such as the astronomical term proper motion). It comes via Old French propre from Latin prōprius ‘one’s own’, which may have been a lexicalization of the phrase prō prīvō, literally ‘for the individual’ (prīvus is the source of English private). The word developed widely in meaning in Latin, but its main modern English senses, ‘correct’ and ‘morally right’, are of later evolution. Appropriate [15] goes back to a late Latin derivative. => appropriate, property
proper (adj.)
c. 1300, "adapted to some purpose, fit, apt; commendable, excellent" (sometimes ironic), from Old French propre "own, particular; exact, neat, fitting, appropriate" (11c.), from Latin proprius "one's own, particular to itself," from pro privo "for the individual, in particular," from ablative of privus "one's own, individual" (see private (adj.)) + pro "for" (see pro-). Related: Properly.
From early 14c. as "belonging or pertaining to oneself; individual; intrinsic;" from mid-14c. as "pertaining to a person or thing in particular, special, specific; distinctive, characteristic;" also "what is by the rules, correct, appropriate, acceptable." From early 15c. as "separate, distinct; itself." Meaning "socially appropriate, decent, respectable" is first recorded 1704. Proper name "name belonging to or relating to the person or thing in question," is from late 13c., a sense also preserved in astronomical proper motion (c. 1300). Proper noun is from c. 1500.
实用例句
1. He denied that he'd failed to keep a proper lookout that night.
他否认当晚守望不力。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Catherine demonstrated the proper way to cleanse the face.
凯瑟琳演示了洁面的正确方法。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Britain imposed fines on airlines which bring in passengers without proper papers.
英国会对运载证件不齐全的乘客进入国内的航空公司课以罚款。
来自柯林斯例句
4. We tend to imagine that the Victorians were very prim and proper.
我们倾向于把维多利亚时代的人想象得非常古板、中规中矩。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Carol managed a few proper snivels for the sake of appearance.
