adj. 1. Of or relating to a proprietor or to ownership: had proprietary rights. 2. Privately owned, as a business: a proprietary hospital. 3. Owned by a private individual or corporation under a trademark or patent: a proprietary drug. n. pl. pro·pri·e·tar·ies 1. A proprietor or group of proprietors. 2. Ownership; proprietorship. 3. A proprietary medicine. 4. One granted ownership of a proprietary colony. [From Middle English proprietarie, owner of property, from Old French proprietaire and from Medieval Latin proprietārius, both from Late Latin, of a property owner, from Latin proprietās, ownership; see PROPERTY.] pro·pri′e·tari·ly adv. |
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