Added 9 October 2026
appropriate
/əˈpɹəʊ.pɹi.eɪt/ verb
In Latin: appropriātus Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about appropriate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To take to oneself; to claim or use, especially as by an exclusive right.
Let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
-
To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, especially in exclusion of all others; with to or for.
A spot of ground is appropriated for a garden.
- To annex (for example a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property).
adjective
-
Suitable or fit; proper; felicitous.
The headmaster wondered what an appropriate measure would be to make the pupil behave better.
-
Suitable to the social situation or to social respect or social discreetness; socially correct; socially discreet; well-mannered; proper.
I don't think it was appropriate for the cashier to tell me out loud in front of all those people at the checkout that my hairpiece looked like it was falling out of place.
- Set apart for a particular use or person; reserved.
Origin
From Middle English appropriaten, from appropriat (“appropriated”) + -en, borrowed from Latin appropriātus, perfect passive participle of appropriō (“to make one's own”), from ad (“to”) + propriō (“to make one's own”), from proprius (“one's own, private”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)