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adj. Suitable for a particular person, condition, occasion, or place; fitting. tr.v. (-āt′) ap·pro·pri·at·ed, ap·pro·pri·at·ing, ap·pro·pri·ates 1. To set apart for a specific use: appropriating funds for education. 2. To take possession of or make use of exclusively for oneself, often without permission: My coworker appropriated my unread newspaper. [Middle English appropriat, from Late Latin appropriātus, past participle of appropriāre, to make one's own : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin proprius, own; see per1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ap·propri·ate·ly adv. ap·propri·ate·ness n. ap·propri·a′tive (-ā′tĭv) adj. ap·propri·a′tor n. Synonyms: appropriate, arrogate, commandeer, confiscate These verbs mean to seize for oneself or as one's right: appropriated the family car; arrogated the chair at the head of the table; commandeered a plane for the escape; confiscating stolen property. See Also Synonyms at allocate. |
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