Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable. [13th c.]
Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous. [18th c.]
(topology, of a function) Such that the preimage of every compact set is compact.
(topology, of a function) Continuous, mapping closed sets to closed sets, and such that the preimage of every point is compact.
(algebraic geometry, of a morphism of schemes) separated, of finite type, and universally closed.
(algebraic geometry, of a variety over a field ) such that unique morphism from the variety to is proper (as above).
(mathematical analysis, of a metric space) Such that every closed ball is compact
Possessed, related.
(grammar) Used to designate a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are usually written with an initial capital letter. [14th c.]
Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular. [14th c.]
, II.1.3:
They have a proper saint almost for every peculiar infirmity: for poison, gouts, agues[…].
1829, James Marsh, Preliminary Essay to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Aids to Reflection
those higher and peculiar attributes[…]which constitute our proper humanity
(usually postpositive) In the strict sense; within the strict definition or core (of a specified place, taxonomic order, idea, etc).
For more quotations using this term, see Citations:proper.
Belonging to oneself or itself; own. [14th c.]
, II.4.1.ii:
every country, and more than that, every private place, hath his proper remedies growing in it, particular almost to the domineering and most frequent maladies of it.
(heraldry) Portrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures. [16th c.]
(mathematics) Being strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself. [20th c.]
(mathematics, physics) Eigen-; designating a function or value which is an eigenfunction or eigenvalue. [20th c.]
Accurate, strictly applied.
Excellent, of high quality; such as the specific person or thing should ideally be. (Now often merged with later senses.) [14th c.]
(now regional) Attractive, elegant. [14th c.]
(often postpositive) In the very strictest sense of the word. [14th c.]
Ultimately from Old Frenchpropre, from Latinproprius. Probably borrowed in north-western dialects via Middle Dutchproper [13th c., sense: 15th c.], later generalized under the influence of modern Frenchpropre. The colloquial euphemism for “chubby” may, in part, be due to association with Proppen (whence also proppenvoll and Wonneproppen).