Etymology : Middle English, from Late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, from Latin ad- + proprius own
Pronunciation : &-prO-prE-"At
Function : transitive verb
Date : 15th century
1. set aside, allot; take without permission. suitable; fitting, proper. appropriate\ap*pro"pri*ate\ , a. [l. appropriatus, p. p. of appropriare; ad + propriare to appropriate, fr. proprius one's own, proper. see:
proper.] set apart for a particular use or person. hence: belonging peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; fit; proper. in its strict and appropriate meaning. appropriate acts of divine worship. it is not at all times easy to find words appropriate to express our ideas.appropriate \ap*pro"pri*ate\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. appropriated ; p. pr. & vb. n. appropriating .].
2. to take to one's self in exclusion of others; to claim or use as by an exclusive right; as, let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
3. to set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, in exclusion of all others; -- with to or for; as, a spot of ground is appropriated for a garden; to appropriate money for the increase of the navy.
4. to make suitable; to suit. [archaic].
5. (eng. eccl. law) to annex, as a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property.appropriate \ap*pro"pri*ate\ , n. a property; attribute. [obs.]appropriate adj.
6. suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc; "a book not appropriate for children"; "a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity"; "it seems that an apology is appropriate" [ant: inappropriate].
7. appropriate for achieving a particular end; implies a lack of concern for fairness [syn: advantageous].
8. meant or adapted for an occasion or use; "a tractor suitable (or fit) for heavy duty"; "not an appropriate (or fit) time for flippancy" [syn: suitable, suited].
9. suitable and fitting; "the tailored clothes were harmonious with her military bearing" [syn: harmonious].
10. being of striking appropriateness and pertinence; "the successful copywriter is a master of apposite and evocative verbal images"; "an apt reply" [syn: apposite, apt, pertinent] v 1: give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause; "i will earmark this money for your research" [syn: allow, earmark, set aside, reserve] 2: take possession of without permission or take with force, as after a conquest or invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "the army seized the town"; "the militia captured the castle" [syn: capture, seize, conquer, take over].
11. Set apart for a particular use or person.
12. Hence: Belonging peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; fit; proper.
13. To take to one's self in exclusion of others; to claim or use as by an exclusive right; as, let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
14. To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, in exclusion of all others; with to or for; as, a spot of ground is appropriated for a garden; to appropriate money for the increase of the navy.
15. To make suitable; to suit.
16. To annex, as a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property.
17. A property; attribute. take possession of by force, as after an invasion; "the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants"; "The army seized the town"; "The militia captured the castle" suitable for a particular person or place or condition etc; "a book not appropriate for children"; "a funeral conducted the appropriate solemnity"; "it seems that an apology is appropriate" suitable and fitting; "the tailored clothes were harmonious with her military bearing" meant or adapted for an occasion or use; "a tractor suitable for heavy duty"; "not an appropriate time for flippancy".
18. 1. Something that is appropriate is suitable or acceptable for a particular situation. Dress neatly and attractively in an outfit appropriate to the job The teacher can then take appropriate action. ¡Ù inappropriate + appropriately ap·pro·pri·ate·ly It's entitled, appropriately enough, `Art for the Nation'.
19. If someone appropriates something which does not belong to them, they take it, usually without the right to do so. Several other newspapers have appropriated the idea = purloin. correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose  inappropriate appropriate for.