Right vs. Proper — What's the Difference?

Conforming with or conformable to justice, law, or morality

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

In accordance with fact, reason, or truth; correct

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

Fitting, proper, or appropriate

Belonging or relating exclusively or distinctively to; particular to

Most favorable, desirable, or convenient

In the natural colours.

In or into a satisfactory state or condition

(of a person) good-looking

In good mental or physical health or order.

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

Intended to be worn or positioned facing outward or toward an observer

Satisfactorily or correctly

Of, belonging to, located on, or being the side of the body to the south when the subject is facing east.

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

Of, relating to, directed toward, or located on the right side.

Characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting

Located on the right side of a person facing downstream

Called for by rules or conventions; correct

Often Right Of or belonging to the political or intellectual right.

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

Formed by or in reference to a line or plane that is perpendicular to another line or plane.

Belonging to one; own

Having the axis perpendicular to the base

Characteristically belonging to the being or thing in question; peculiar

Having a right angle

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

Straight; uncurved; direct

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

(Archaic) Not spurious; genuine.

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

That which is just, moral, or proper.

Worthy of the name; true

The direction or position on the right side.

Out-and-out; thorough

The right side.

Thoroughly

The right hand.

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

A turn in the direction of the right hand or side.

Suitable.

The people and groups who advocate the adoption of conservative or reactionary measures, especially in government and politics. Also called right wing.

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

The opinion of those advocating such measures.

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

(Sports) A blow delivered by a boxer's right hand.

Possessed, related.

(Baseball) Right field.

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

A just or legal claim or title.

Pertaining exclusively to a specific thing or person; particular.

Something that is due to a person or governmental body by law, tradition, or nature.

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

Something, especially humane treatment, claimed to be due to animals by moral principle.

Belonging to oneself or itself; own.

An existing stockholder's legally protected claim to purchase additional shares in a corporation ahead of those who are not currently stockholders, especially at a cost lower than market value.

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

The negotiable paper on which such an entitlement is indicated.

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

Toward or on the right.

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

In a straight line; directly

Accurate, strictly applied.

In the proper or desired manner; well

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

Exactly; just

Attractive, elegant.

Immediately

In the very strictest sense of the word.

Completely; quite

Utter, complete.

According to law, morality, or justice.

Properly; thoroughly; completely.

Accurately; correctly

Properly.

Chiefly Southern US Considerably; very

(obsolete) Something set apart for a special use.

Used as an intensive

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

Used in titles

Belonging to one; one's own; individual.

To put in or restore to an upright or proper position

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

To put in order or set right; correct

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.

To make reparation or amends for; redress

Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome.

To regain an upright or proper position.

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.

(archaic) Straight, not bent.

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

(geometry) Of an angle, having a size of 90 degrees, or one quarter of a complete rotation; the angle between two perpendicular lines.

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

(geometry) Of a geometric figure, incorporating a right angle between edges, faces, axes, etc.

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

Complying with justice, correctness or reason; correct, just, true.

Marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness;

Appropriate, perfectly suitable; fit for purpose.

Limited to the thing specified;

Healthy, sane, competent.

Appropriate for a condition or occasion;

Real; veritable (used emphatically).

Having all the qualities typical of the thing specified;

(Australia) All right; not requiring assistance.

(dated) Most favourable or convenient; fortunate.

Designating the side of the body which is positioned to the east if one is facing north. This arrow points to the reader's right: →

(geography) Designating the bank of a river (etc.) on one's right when facing downstream (i.e. facing forward while floating with the current); that is, the south bank of a river that flows eastward. If this arrow: ⥴ shows the direction of the current, the tilde is on the right side of the river.

Designed to be placed or worn outward.

(politics) Pertaining to the political right; conservative.

On the right side.

Towards the right side.

Exactly, precisely.

Immediately, directly.

Very, extremely, quite.

According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really.

In a correct manner.

To a great extent or degree.

Yes, that is correct; I agree.

I agree with whatever you say; I have no opinion.

Signpost word to change the subject in a discussion or discourse.

Used to check agreement at the end of an utterance.

Used to add seriousness or decisiveness before a statement.

That which complies with justice, law or reason.

A legal, just or moral entitlement.

The right side or direction.

The right hand or fist.

The authority to perform, publish, film, or televise a particular work, event, etc.; a copyright.

(politics) The ensemble of right-wing political parties; political conservatives as a group.

The outward or most finished surface, as of a coin, piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.

(surfing) A wave breaking from right to left (viewed from the shore).

(transitive) To correct.

(transitive) To set upright.

(intransitive) To return to normal upright position.

(transitive) To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of.

Straight; direct; not crooked; as, a right line.

Upright; erect from a base; having an upright axis; not oblique; as, right ascension; a right pyramid or cone.

Fit; suitable; proper; correct; becoming; as, the right man in the right place; the right way from London to Oxford.

Conformed to the constitution of man and the will of God, or to justice and equity; not deviating from the true and just; according with truth and duty; just; true.

Characterized by reality or genuineness; real; actual; not spurious.

According with truth; passing a true judgment; conforming to fact or intent; not mistaken or wrong; not erroneous; correct; as, this is the right faith.

Most favorable or convenient; fortunate.

Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action is usually stronger than on the other side; - opposed to left when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the right side, hand, arm. Also applied to the corresponding side of the lower animals.

Well placed, disposed, or adjusted; orderly; well regulated; correctly done.

Designed to be placed or worn outward; as, the right side of a piece of cloth.

In a right manner.

In a right or straight line; directly; hence; straightway; immediately; next; as, he stood right before me; it went right to the mark; he came right out; he followed right after the guide.

Exactly; just.

According to the law or will of God; conforming to the standard of truth and justice; righteously; as, to live right; to judge right.

According to any rule of art; correctly.

According to fact or truth; actually; truly; really; correctly; exactly; as, to tell a story right.

In a great degree; very; wholly; unqualifiedly; extremely; highly; as, right humble; right noble; right valiant.

That which is right or correct.

A just judgment or action; that which is true or proper; justice; uprightness; integrity.

That to which one has a just claim.

That which one has a legal or social claim to do or to exact; legal power; authority; as, a sheriff has a right to arrest a criminal.

The right side; the side opposite to the left.

Privilege or immunity granted by authority.

In some legislative bodies of Europe (as in France), those members collectively who are conservatives or monarchists. See Center, 5.

The outward or most finished surface, as of a piece of cloth, a carpet, etc.

To bring or restore to the proper or natural position; to set upright; to make right or straight (that which has been wrong or crooked); to correct.

To do justice to; to relieve from wrong; to restore rights to; to assert or regain the rights of; as, to right the oppressed; to right one's self; also, to vindicate.

To recover the proper or natural condition or position; to become upright.

Hence, to regain an upright position, as a ship or boat, after careening.

An abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature;

(frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing;

Location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east;

A turn to the right;

Those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged

Anything in accord with principles of justice;

The hand that is on the right side of the body;

The piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's right

Make reparations or amends for;

Put in or restore to an upright position;

Regain an upright or proper position;

Make right or correct;

Free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth;

Being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north;

Socially right or correct;

In conformance with justice or law or morality;

Correct in opinion or judgment;

Appropriate for a condition or occasion;

Of or belonging to the political or intellectual left

In or into a satisfactory condition;

Intended for the right hand;

In accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure;

Having the axis perpendicular to the base;

Of the side of cloth or clothing intended to face outward;

Most suitable or right for a particular purpose;

Precisely, exactly;

Immediately;

Exactly;

Toward or on the right; also used figuratively;

In the right manner;

An interjection expressing agreement

Completely;

(Southern regional intensive) very;

In accordance with moral or social standards;

In a correct manner;