prop‧er 1 S1 W2 / prɒpə $ prɑpər / 形容词

1 [仅用于名词前] right, suitable, or correct :

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 反义词 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 [仅用于名词前] British English spoken real, or of a good and generally accepted standard 同义词 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 [仅用于名词后] 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 [仅用于名词前] British English spoken complete 同义词 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

THESAURUS

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.