appropriate

appropriate
   1. to steal
   Originally, it meant to take for your own use, without any taint of impropriety:
    All old mali had actually done, though, was appropriate his half share of what he had hoed and sweated to grow. (P. Scott, 1977 — the mali, or gardener, had been dismissed for theft)
   2. in line with your dogmatic prejudices
   Appropriate and appropriately are described (by R. Harris, 1992) as 'the favourite words in the bureaucrat's lexicon, the grease for sliding round unpleasantness, the funk-hole for avoiding specifics'. They are also beloved by the politically correct:
    Freedom of speech is still guaranteed by the Constitution, but it can be exercised only so long as it is 'appropriate'. (A. Waugh in Daily Telegraph, 13 August 1994, commenting on the refusal of an American publisher to publish writings by the Pope because they were considered anti-feminine) and also beloved by tyrants:
    In the House of Assembly, Harare's Commons, [Ushekowokunza, Home Affairs Minister] called it 'appropriate technology', a euphemism for electric shock treatment that drew appreciative nods from his colleagues. (Daily Telegraph, September 1983, reporting on the torture of white officers in the Zimbabwe air force)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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  • appropriate — ap·pro·pri·ate /ə prō prē ˌāt/ vt at·ed, at·ing [Late Latin appropriare to take possession of, from ad to, for + proprius one s own] 1: to set apart for or assign to a particular recipient, purpose, or use the legislature appropriating funds for… …   Law dictionary

  • 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. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Appropriate — Ap*pro pri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Appropriated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Appropriating}.] 1. 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • appropriate — [adj] suitable adapted, applicable, appurtenant, apropos, apt, becoming, befitting, belonging, congruous, convenient, correct, deserved, desired, due, felicitous, fit, fitting, germane, good, just, on the button*, on the nose*, opportune,… …   New thesaurus

  • appropriate — vb preempt, *arrogate, confiscate, usurp Analogous words: *take, seize, grab: annex, *add appropriate adj fitting, proper, *fit, suitable, apt, meet, happy, felicitous Analogous words: apposite, pertinent, germane, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • appropriate — [ə prō′prē āt΄; ] for adj. [, ə prō′prēit] vt. appropriated, appropriating [ME appropriaten < LL appropriatus, pp. of appropriare, to make one s own < L ad , to + proprius, one s own] 1. to take for one s own or exclusive use 2. to take… …   English World dictionary

  • Appropriate — Ap*pro pri*ate, n. A property; attribute. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • appropriate — ap‧pro‧pri‧ate [əˈprəʊpri eɪt ǁ əˈproʊ ] verb [transitive] 1. LAW to take something for yourself when you have no right to do this: • The generals appropriated defence funds, leaving their men unpaid for months. 2. ECONOMICS to take something,… …   Financial and business terms

  • appropriate — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ suitable; proper. ► VERB 1) take for one s own use without permission. 2) devote (money) to a special purpose. DERIVATIVES appropriately adverb appropriateness noun appropriation noun app …   English terms dictionary

  • appropriate — I adj. 1) appropriate for; to (appropriate for us; appropriate to the occasion) 2) appropriate to + inf. (it is not appropriate to tip a bus driver) 3) appropriate that + clause; subj. (it is appropriate that he be/ should be present) II v. 1)… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • appropriate — ap|pro|pri|ate1 W1S1 [əˈprəupri ıt US əˈprou ] adj correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose ≠ ↑inappropriate appropriate for ▪ clothes appropriate for a job interview appropriate to ▪ an education system which is more… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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