Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In one's own manner, speech, action, etc.
  • In a proper manner; with propriety; fitly; suitably; correctly: as, a word properly applied; a dress properly adjusted.
  • To a high degree; quite; entirely; exceedingly; extremely.
  • Abbreviated properly
  • Speaking without qualification.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a proper manner; suitably; fitly; strictly; rightly
  • adverb obsolete Individually; after one's own manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb in a proper manner
  • adverb obsolete individually; in one's own manner

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb with reason or justice
  • adverb in the right manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

proper +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • The six-shooter when properly handled is the only weapon -- mind you, sir, I say _properly "_ and here the old eyes blinked rapidly over the great art as he knew its practice.

    Crooked Trails Frederic Remington 1885

  • How many years and hours it takes to play a violin properly is amazing, when you think of it, and I find it so beautiful that we have something like this.

    Lindberg Makes His Mark on the N.Y. Philharmonic David Mermelstein 2010

  • There was at least one soul around, if I understand the term properly, and that was me.

    To Fetch a Thief Spencer Quinn 2010

  • There was at least one soul around, if I understand the term properly, and that was me.

    To Fetch a Thief Spencer Quinn 2010

  • There was at least one soul around, if I understand the term properly, and that was me.

    To Fetch a Thief Spencer Quinn 2010

  • If successful, she might pick up the Nobel Prize he would have gotten, the one he longed for to finish his term properly on a positive note.

    Shunit Harpaz: Why Israel Needs Hillary 2009

  • He insisted that the title properly belonged to his hero, de Mons, who gave Champlain the means, the men, the material and the provisions to construct the habitation at Quebec.8

    Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

  • He insisted that the title properly belonged to his hero, de Mons, who gave Champlain the means, the men, the material and the provisions to construct the habitation at Quebec.8

    Champlain's Dream David Hackett Fischer 2008

  • Too often, people type "LOL" as a way of expressing amusement, rather than to connote, as the term properly means, that they are actually laughing out loud.

    "Grave and deteriorating." Ann Althouse 2006

  • I hope I used the term properly an not out of context.

    Archive 2006-02-01 E.Jim Shannon 2006

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