properly
English
Etymology
Pronunciation
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑ.pɚ.li/
Audio (US): (file)
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒp.ə.li/
- (colloquial or dialectal) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒp.li/
- Rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -ɒpəli
- Hyphenation: prop‧er‧ly
Adverb
properly (comparative more properly, superlative most properly)
- In a proper manner, appropriately, suitably; correctly, justifiably
- Synonyms: compliantly, duly, rightly; see also Thesaurus:conformably
- Does she think the repairs have been properly done?
- 1941, Virginia Woolf, suicide note:
- I know that I am spoiling your life that without me you could work. And you will I know. You see I cant[sic] even write this properly.
- 2011 December 16, Denis Campbell, “Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients'”, in The Guardian[1]:
- Hospitals are failing to care properly for the growing number of people with dementia, according to an NHS-funded report, which has prompted demands for big improvements to help patients.
- (obsolete) individually; in one's own manner.
- Synonyms: independently, singly, uniquely; see also Thesaurus:individually
- (colloquial) Entirely; extremely; thoroughly.
- Synonyms: downright, quite, well and truly; see also Thesaurus:completely
- I was properly tired after that party.
Derived terms
Translations
in a proper manner
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Anagrams
Middle English
Adverb
properly
- properly, appropriately
- individually; in one's own manner
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:
- Now herkenyth how I bar me properly.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)