Proper and improper

Add comment April 14th, 2009

The adjective “appropriate” means “right for the purpose; suitable; fit; proper.” Its final syllable is pronounced like the pronoun “it.”

When that syllable is pronounced “ate,” like the past tense of “eat,” “appropriate” becomes a verb. Its first definition is “to take for one’s own or exclusive use,” which is consistent with its Latin origin.

Its third definition is the one applied to government funding — our tax dollars at work: “to set aside for a specific use or certain person.”

Interestingly, the second one is “to take improperly, as without permission.” In that case, “appropriating” is acting inappropriately.