properly

[ prop-er ]

SEE DEFINITION OF properly

adv.correctly

Synonyms for properly

MOST RELEVANT

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PROPERLY

She was properly presented; but as yet she has had no success at all.'

If these are properly looked after, they may be kept for some time.

If it is properly put together it will remain rigid and unyielding.

I was glad to see that her neck and arms were properly covered.

To whom could she so properly confide this important secret?

Still they denied her no need her rare charms might properly claim.

If properly made, it will be light and flaky, and the suet imperceptible.

You wish to eat your meals, and, if possible, to have them properly served.

The case is different with the sciences, properly so called.

Kirkwood could see his shamefaced, sidelong glances; and despised him properly for them.

WORD ORIGIN

c.1300, "adapted to some purpose, fit, apt; commendable, excellent" (sometimes ironic), from Old French propre "own, particular; exact, neat, fitting, appropriate" (11c.), from Latin proprius "one's own, particular to itself," from pro privo "for the individual, in particular," from ablative of privus "one's own, individual" (see private (adj.)) + pro "for" (see pro-). Related: Properly.

From early 14c. as "belonging or pertaining to oneself; individual; intrinsic;" from mid-14c. as "pertaining to a person or thing in particular, special, specific; distinctive, characteristic;" also "what is by the rules, correct, appropriate, acceptable." From early 15c. as "separate, distinct; itself." Meaning "socially appropriate, decent, respectable" is first recorded 1704. Proper name "name belonging to or relating to the person or thing in question," is from late 13c., a sense also preserved in astronomical proper motion (c.1300). Proper noun is from c.1500.

properly

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PROPERLY

WORD ORIGIN

MORE RELATED WORDS FOR PROPERLY

accordingly

amply

appropriately

correctly

fairly

justly