a. [ OE. propre, F. propre, fr. L. proprius. Cf. Appropriate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Belonging to one; one's own; individual. “His proper good” [ i. e., his own possessions ]. Chaucer. “My proper son.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now learn the difference, at your proper cost,
Betwixt true valor and an empty boast. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Belonging to the natural or essential constitution; peculiar; not common; particular; as, every animal has his proper instincts and appetites. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those high and peculiar attributes . . . which constitute our proper humanity. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Befitting one's nature, qualities, etc.; suitable in all respect; appropriate; right; fit; decent; as, water is the proper element for fish; a proper dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

The proper study of mankind is man. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play,
All proper to the spring, and sprightly May. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome. [ Archaic ] “Thou art a proper man.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moses . . . was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child. Heb. xi. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Pertaining to one of a species, but not common to the whole; not appellative; -- opposed to common; as, a proper name; Dublin is the proper name of a city. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Rightly so called; strictly considered; as, Greece proper; the garden proper. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Her.) Represented in its natural color; -- said of any object used as a charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

In proper, individually; privately. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. --
Proper flower or
Proper corolla (Bot.), one of the single florets, or corollets, in an aggregate or compound flower. --
Proper fraction (Arith.) a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator. --
Proper nectary (Bot.), a nectary separate from the petals and other parts of the flower. --
Proper noun (Gram.), a name belonging to an individual, by which it is distinguished from others of the same class; -- opposed to common noun; as, John, Boston, America. --
Proper perianth or
Proper involucre (Bot.), that which incloses only a single flower. --
Proper receptacle (Bot.), a receptacle which supports only a single flower or fructification. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good. [ Colloq & Vulgar ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ L. properatus, p. p. of properare to hasten. ] To hasten, or press forward. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. properatio. ] The act of hastening; haste. [ Obs. ] T. Adams. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Gr. Gram.) Properispomenon. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Properispomena [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to circumflex on the penult; &unr_; before + &unr_; to circumflex. See Perispomenon. ] (Gr. Gram.) A word which has the circumflex accent on the penult. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. In a proper manner; suitably; fitly; strictly; rightly; as, a word properly applied; a dress properly adjusted. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Individually; after one's own manner. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Now, harkeneth, how I bare me properly. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality of being proper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Tallness; comeliness. [ Obs. ] Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Possessing property; holding real estate, or other investments of money. “The propertied and satisfied classes.” M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To invest which properties, or qualities. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a property of; to appropriate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They have here propertied me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]