Where does “proper” come from?

proper (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch proper, from Old French propre, from Latin prōprius — appropriate to oneself: (one's) proper, (one's) own.

proper (Dutch): clean

Definitions

  1. clean

Ancestry of “proper”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchproper—
2Old Frenchpropreown; proper, appropriate, correct; special
3Latinprōpriusappropriate to oneself: (one's) proper, (one's) own
Every word from Latin prōprius →Every word from Old French propre →Every word from Middle Dutch proper →
proper — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer