adapted or appropriate to the purpose or circumstances; fit; suitable: the proper time to plant strawberries.
conforming to established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous: a very proper young man.
fitting; right: It was only proper to bring a gift.
strictly belonging or applicable: the proper place for a stove.
belonging or pertaining exclusively or distinctly to a person, thing, or group.
strict; accurate.
in the strict sense of the word (usually used postpositively): Shellfish do not belong to the fishes proper. Is the school within Boston proper or in the suburbs?
a proper adjective.
(of a name, noun, or adjective) designating a particular person or thing and written in English with an initial capital letter, as Joan, Chicago, Monday, American.
having the force or function of a proper name:a proper adjective.
normal or regular.
belonging to oneself or itself; own.
complete or thorough: a proper thrashing.
used only on a particular day or festival: the proper introit.
(of a device) depicted in its natural colors: an oak tree proper.
excellent; capital; fine.
good-looking or handsome.
(of a subset of a set) not equal to the whole set.
of good character; respectable.
—adv.
thoroughly; completely.
—n.
a special office or special parts of an office appointed for a particular day or time.