appropriate English · revision 3977

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1425|origins=la proprius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: adjective: UK /əˈprəʊ.pri.ət/, US /əˈproʊ.pri.ət/; verb: UK /əˈprəʊ.pri.eɪt/, US /əˈproʊ.pri.eɪt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|appropriat]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la-lat|appropriātus]], the past participle of [[m|la-lat|appropriāre|t=to make one's own]] (also adpropriāre),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|ad-|t=to]] and [[m|la|propriāre|t=to take as one's own]], from [[m|la|proprius|t=one's own]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) By the 17th century the Latinate verb had replaced the older appropre, from Old French aproprier.^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[proper]], [[property]] and [[appropriation]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Both adjective and verb are from the early 15th century:^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the verb meant “to take possession of, take exclusively”,^(Etymonline) and Barnhart's first adjective sense is “belonging to as an attribute” (before 1425).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective “specially suitable, proper” is from the early 15th century in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and 1546 in the OED,^(OED 1989) which also records “belonging to oneself, private” (1627), now obsolete.^(OED 1989) The verb meant “to make a thing the private property of someone” (1535)^(OED 1989) and, in church law, “to annex a benefice to a religious body” (1528).^(OED 1989) “To take for one's own use” is from 1635,^(OED 1989) and “to set apart money for a particular purpose” is the sense used of legislatures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) Johnson defined the adjective as “peculiar; consigned to some particular use or person”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * early 15th century – verb, to take possession of; adjective.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1528 – to annex a benefice.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1535 – to make private property.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1546 – suitable, proper.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1635 – to take for oneself.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Suitable for a particular person, occasion or place; [[fitting]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set apart for a specific use, especially money by a [[legislature]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To take for one's own use, often without permission.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[appropriately]]

+ * [[appropriateness]]

+ * [[appropriator]]

+ * [[appropriable]]

+ * [[appropriativeness]]

+ * [[reappropriate]]

+ * [[misappropriate]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[appropriation]]

+ * [[proper]]

+ * [[property]]

+ * [[propriety]]

+ * [[expropriate]]

+ * [[inappropriate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage sets the verb beside arrogate, commandeer, confiscate, preempt and usurp, which share the meaning “to seize for oneself”.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}