ap·pro·pri·ate
(ə-prṓprē-ĭt)
[Middle English appropriat, from Late Latin appropriātus past participle of appropriāre, to make one's own, Latin ad-, ad-, + Latin proprius, own.]
adjective
- Suitable for a particular person, condition, occasion, or place; fitting.
transitive verb: -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.
- To set apart for a specific use: appropriating funds for education.
- To take possession of or make use of exclusively for oneself, often without permission: Lee appropriated my unread newspaper and never returned it.
derivatives
- ap·própri·ate·ly
- adverb
- ap·própri·ate·ness
- noun
- ap·própri·átive
- adjective
- ap·própri·átor
- noun
synonyms:
appropriate, arrogate, commandeer, confiscate, preempt, usurp These verbs mean to seize for oneself or as one's right: appropriated the family car; arrogated the chair at the head of the table; commandeered a plane for the escape; confiscating stolen property; preempted the glory for herself; usurped the throne.- See also: allocate
