English
proper
Proper comes from Old French propre, from Latin proprius ‘one’s own, proper’, from Proto-Italic *proprijos.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proprijosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEproprius‘appropriate to oneself: proper’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400propre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1526proper
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*proprijosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEproprius‘appropriate to oneself: proper’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400propre
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1526proper
Earliest quotation: 1526, [William Tyndale, The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible): “The same tyme was Moses borne, and was a…”
A compound of *pro- ‘pro-’ + *prijos
Proto-Indo-European *pro- ‘toward, forward’
Proto-Italic *pro- ‘pro-’
Proto-Indo-European *preyH- ‘to please’
Proto-Indo-European *priHós ‘pleased’
Proto-Italic *prijos
Linked words
through Latin proprius ‘appropriate to oneself: (one's) proper,…’
Today it means
adj Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *proprijos / proper