Appropriateness

suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.:
an appropriate example; an appropriate dress.
belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper:
each played his appropriate part.
to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use:
the legislature appropriated funds for the university.
to take to or for oneself; take possession of.
to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate:
he appropriated the trust funds for himself.
to steal, especially to commit petty theft.
contemporary examples

my students were willing to discuss the appropriateness of the 16-18 range, but were resolutely opposed to going any lower.
how young is too young? thaddeus russell september 30, 2009

there has always been a debate over the appropriateness of judicial review.
why is the supreme court so unpopular? david r. dow june 8, 2012

these decisions and criteria are referred to as “appropriateness.”
are routine scans causing cancer? dale eisinger september 16, 2014

“ndsc is trying to decrease and change the appropriateness of imaging,” bettmann said.
are routine scans causing cancer? dale eisinger september 16, 2014

she felt so in awe that he expressed interest in her that she never questioned the appropriateness of some of his behavior.
digital har-ssment is the new means of domestic abuse keli goff february 9, 2014

historical examples

the bird woman looked at the girl and guessed its appropriateness.
freckles gene stratton-porter

got the biggest sense of appropriateness of any man in the county, wilkerson has.
the gentleman from indiana booth tarkington

as to the block-form, let it be simple, and have the appearance of appropriateness and consistency.
principles of decorative design christopher dresser

it was not until the next morning that they fully understood the appropriateness of the direction.
we two edna lyall

this man seemed to fit into the picture of the hills with the appropriateness of the native-born.
destiny charles neville buck

adjective (əˈprəʊprɪɪt)
right or suitable; fitting
(rare) particular; own: they had their appropriate methods
verb (transitive) (əˈprəʊprɪˌeɪt)
to take for one’s own use, esp illegally or without permission
to put aside (funds, etc) for a particular purpose or person
v.

early 15c., “take possession of,” from late latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare, adpropriare (c.450) “to make one’s own,” from latin ad- “to” (see ad-) + propriare “take as one’s own,” from proprius “one’s own” (see proper). related: appropriated; appropriating.
adj.

“specially suitable, proper,” early 15c., from latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare (see appropriate (v.)). related: appropriately; appropriateness.

verb

liberate (wwi army)