proper
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++prop·er1 /ˈprɒpə $ ˈprɑːpər/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective 1 [only before noun]RIGHT/PROPER right, suitable, or correct 正确的；合适的，适当的；恰当的 Everything was in its proper place (=where it should be). 每样东西都放在恰当的位置。 the proper way to clean your teeth 正确的刷牙方法 The proper name for Matthew’s condition is hyperkinetic syndrome. 马修的病的恰当名称是多动症。► see thesaurus at suitable2 RIGHT/PROPERsocially or legally correct and acceptable 合适的；合理的；得体的；正规的；〔法律上〕正确的，可接受的 OPP improperit is proper (for somebody) to do something I don’t feel that it would be proper for me to give you that information. 我觉得我把那资料给你不合适。 It is only right and proper that an independent inquiry should take place. 唯一正确的做法是进行独立调查。3 [only before noun] British English spokenREAL/NOT FALSE OR ARTIFICIAL real, or of a good and generally accepted standard 真正的，像样的 SYN American English decent, real When are you going to settle down and get a proper job? 你什么时候才能安定下来找一份正经的工作？ Try to eat proper meals instead of fast-food takeaways. 尽量吃点像样的饭菜，而不是外卖的快餐。4 [only after noun]EXACT the real or main part of something, not other parts before, after, or near to it 严格意义上的 The friendly chat which comes before the interview proper is intended to relax the candidate. 正式面试之前的友好闲聊是为了放松候选人的心情。 the city centre proper 市中心5 proper to something formal a) OWNbelonging to one particular type of thing 特有的，为…专有的 the reasoning abilities proper to our species 我们这个物种所特有的推理能力 b) RIGHT/PROPERsuitable for something 适宜的，适合的 dressed in a way that was proper to the occasion 穿着适合这种场合6 [only before noun] British English spokenCOMPLETELY complete 完全的，彻底的 SYN real He’s made a proper fool of himself this time! 这次他真是出尽了丑！7 POLITEvery polite, and careful to do what is socially correct 非常有礼貌的；循规蹈矩的 She was very formal and proper. 她一本正经，循规蹈矩。 → properly
Examples from the Corpus
proper• It's the main road which links Santa Cruz proper and the mountains.• Higher math skills are not given proper attention in schools.• Hence, it is difficult to know when the proper consecutive item will appear.• You can't climb a mountain without the proper equipment.• We don't have a proper guest room, but you can have the sofa in the study.• When are you going to get a proper job?• So, this firm might be able to come up with the proper lens.• Ultimately this is a question as to the proper limits of self-determination, as well as turning on the specific lucidity of the individual patient.• Push him down the proper path.• Accounts by military and civilian air-traffic officials agreed the commercial airliner had received proper permission to traverse the zone.• We will stop the wanton sale of school playing fields and ensure that sport takes its proper place within the curriculum.• We need to put the books back in their proper place.• Not a menstrual period in the proper sense.• It just wouldn't have been proper to not invite Jeff.• I can't make the repairs without the proper tools or materials.• With proper training, most people can learn leadership skills.• But, frankly, she wasn't a woman any more, not a proper woman.• Bill is a very proper young man.proper name for• Now then, the proper name for it is the Bureaucratic Spatio-Temporal Effect, but we call it Bureauspace for short.• A proper name is no less a proper name for possessing a descriptive content.• Other groups of plants require a thorough revision before we can be sure of the proper name for the species.proper job• It hasn't given people proper jobs.• Just because she's never had a proper job.• Now he writes computer software for the National Blind League but needs a proper job.• Establish proper job descriptions for low-level supervisors at the plant, and link compensation to performance for frontline supervisors.• It is often the proper job of authorities to issue directives for this purpose.• Other men's wives did proper jobs once the children were off their hands.• I don't have a proper job so I don't earn much money.• It was all something to do with their thinking he didn't have a proper job, so they said.proper2 adverb British English spoken 1 good and proper spoken COMPLETELYcompletely 完全地，彻底地 We beat 'em good and proper. 我们彻底打败了他们。2. RIGHT/PROPERused by some people to mean properly, although most people think that this is incorrect 正确地，适当地〔有些人把此词当作properly用，尽管大多数人认为这样用不正确〕Examples from the Corpus
proper• The machine operators had not been properly trained.Origin proper (1200-1300) Old French propre, from Latin proprius “own”prop·er1 adjectiveproper2 adverbChineseSyllable
or right, correct suitable, Corpus
proper
prop‧er1 S1 W2 /ˈprɒpə $ ˈprɑːpər/ 
adjective
Everything was in its proper place (=where it should be).
the proper way to clean your teeth
The proper name for Matthew’s condition is hyperkinetic syndrome.
2. socially or legally correct and acceptable
OPP improper
it is proper (for somebody) to do something
I don’t feel that it would be proper for me to give you that information.
It is only right and proper that an independent inquiry should take place.
3. [only before noun] British English spoken real, or of a good and generally accepted standard
SYN decent, real American English:
When are you going to settle down and get a proper job?
Try to eat proper meals instead of fast-food takeaways.
4. [only after noun] the real or main part of something, not other parts before, after, or near to it:
The friendly chat which comes before the interview proper is intended to relax the candidate.
the city centre proper
5. proper to something formal
a. belonging to one particular type of thing:
the reasoning abilities proper to our species
b. suitable for something:
dressed in a way that was proper to the occasion
6. [only before noun] British English spoken complete
SYN real:
He’s made a proper fool of himself this time__
7. very polite, and careful to do what is socially correct:
She was very formal and proper.
⇨ properly
▪ suitable having the right qualities for a particular purpose or person: a suitable place for a picnic | They don’t consider him a suitable husband for their daughter.
▪right completely suitable in every way: It’s a nice house, but it isn’t right for us. | We’ll tell her when the time is right.
▪appropriate suitable for a particular purpose. Appropriate is more formal than suitable: She filled out all the appropriate forms. | It may not be an appropriate time to ask him about it. | It’s not appropriate to wear a short skirt for an interview. | the appropriate way to end a business letter
▪proper the proper tool, piece of equipment, or way of doing something is the one that most people think is most suitable: You can’t change a wheel without the proper tools. | the proper procedure for hiring staff
▪suited to something if someone is suited to something, he or she has the right qualities to do it: He’d be well suited to the job.
proper2 adverb British English spoken
1. good and proper completely:
We beat 'em good and proper.
2. used by some people to mean properly, although most people think that this is incorrect
| I |
adjective Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: propre, from Latin proprius 'own'
1. [only before noun] right, suitable, or correct:Language: Old French
Origin: propre, from Latin proprius 'own'
2. socially or legally correct and acceptable
OPP improper
it is proper (for somebody) to do something
3. [only before noun] British English spoken real, or of a good and generally accepted standard
SYN decent, real American English:
4. [only after noun] the real or main part of something, not other parts before, after, or near to it:
5. proper to something formal
a. belonging to one particular type of thing:
b. suitable for something:
6. [only before noun] British English spoken complete
SYN real:
7. very polite, and careful to do what is socially correct:
⇨ properly
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
adverb British English spoken1. good and proper completely:
2. used by some people to mean properly, although most people think that this is incorrect
especially
