Fitting vs. Proper — What's the Difference?

Being in keeping with a situation; appropriate.

Denoting something that is truly what it is said or regarded to be; genuine

The act of trying on clothes whose fit is being adjusted.

Of the required or correct type or form; suitable or appropriate

A small detachable part for a machine or apparatus.

Belonging or relating exclusively or distinctively to; particular to

Fittings Chiefly British Furnishings or fixtures.

In the natural colours.

Present participle of fit

(of a person) good-looking

Getting ready; preparing.

Denoting a subset or subgroup that does not constitute the entire set or group, especially one that has more than one element.

Ready, appropriate, suitable, or in keeping

Satisfactorily or correctly

A small part, especially a standardized or detachable part of a device or machine.

The part of a church service that varies with the season or feast

(engineering) A tube connector; a standardized connecting part of a piping system to attach sections of pipe together, such as a coupling

Characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting

The act of trying on clothes to inspect or adjust the fit.

Called for by rules or conventions; correct

(manufacturing) The process of fitting up; especially of applying craft methods such as skilled filing to the making and assembling of machines or other products.

Strictly following rules or conventions, especially in social behavior; seemly

A removable item in a house or other building, which can be taken with one when one moves out, such as a moveable piece of furniture, a carpet, picture, etc.; US furnishing; compare fixture.

Belonging to one; own

(uncountable) The action or condition of having fits in the sense of seizures or convulsions.

Characteristically belonging to the being or thing in question; peculiar

Anything used in fitting up

Being within the strictly limited sense, as of a term designating something

Fit; appropriate; suitable; proper.

(Ecclesiastical) For use in the liturgy of a particular feast or season of the year.

Making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances

(Mathematics) Of or relating to a subset of a given set when the set has at least one element not in the subset.

A small and often standardized accessory to a larger system

Worthy of the name; true

(usually plural) furnishings and equipment (especially for a ship or hotel)

Out-and-out; thorough

Trying on clothes to see whether they fit

Thoroughly

In harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion;

The portion of the liturgy that varies according to the particular feast or season of the year.

Being precisely fitting and right;

Suitable.

Suited or acceptable to the purpose or circumstances; fit, suitable.

Following the established standards of behavior or manners; correct or decorous.

Possessed, related.

(grammar) Used to designate a particular person, place, or thing. Proper nouns are usually written with an initial capital letter.

Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular.

In the strict sense; within the strict definition or core (of a specified place, taxonomic order, idea, etc).

Belonging to oneself or itself; own.

(heraldry) Portrayed in natural or usual coloration, as opposed to conventional tinctures.

(mathematics) Being strictly part of some other thing (not necessarily explicitly mentioned, but of definitional importance), and not being the thing itself.

Eigen-; designating a function or value which is an eigenfunction or eigenvalue.

Accurate, strictly applied.

Excellent, of high quality; such as the specific person or thing should ideally be. (Now often merged with later senses.)

Attractive, elegant.

In the very strictest sense of the word.

Utter, complete.

Properly; thoroughly; completely.

Properly.

(obsolete) Something set apart for a special use.

(Christianity) A part of the Christian liturgy that varies according to the date.

Belonging to one; one's own; individual.

Belonging to the natural or essential constitution; peculiar; not common; particular; as, every animal has his proper instincts and appetites.

Befitting one's nature, qualities, etc.; suitable in all respect; appropriate; right; fit; decent; as, water is the proper element for fish; a proper dress.

Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome.

Pertaining to one of a species, but not common to the whole; not appellative; - opposed to common; as, a proper name; Dublin is the proper name of a city.

Rightly so called; strictly considered; as, Greece proper; the garden proper.

Represented in its natural color; - said of any object used as a charge.

Properly; hence, to a great degree; very; as, proper good.

Marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness;

Limited to the thing specified;

Appropriate for a condition or occasion;

Having all the qualities typical of the thing specified;