Word: appropriate (adjective / verb)

Associations

The word "appropriate" can be both an adjective and a verb.

As an adjective, it means "suitable" or "right for a particular situation."

• Example 1: It is appropriate to wear a suit to a job interview. (Here, "appropriate" means suitable or proper.)
• Example 2: The teacher gave appropriate advice to the students. (The advice fits the situation.)
• Example 3: Wearing shorts in cold weather is not appropriate. (Not suitable for the situation.)

As a verb, "to appropriate" means "to take something for a particular use, often without permission."

• Example 1: The government appropriated land to build a new highway. (They took land for a purpose.)
• Example 2: The company appropriated funds for the new project. (They set aside money.)
• Example 3: He was accused of appropriating company resources for personal use. (Taking something wrongly.)

Synonym note:

• For the adjective meaning, a synonym is "suitable." The difference is "appropriate" often implies following social or cultural rules, while "suitable" is more general.
• For the verb meaning, a synonym is "seize" or "take," but "appropriate" can sound more formal or legal.

Substitution

Adjective:

• suitable
• fitting
• proper Verb:
• take
• seize
• allocate (when meaning to assign or set aside something officially)

Changing the word changes the tone or formality. For example, "suitable" is less formal than "appropriate," and "seize" sounds stronger than "appropriate" when used as a verb.

Deconstruction

• The word "appropriate" comes from Latin "appropriatus," past participle of "appropriare," which means "to make one's own."
• Prefix: "ap-" (a variation of "ad-") means "to" or "toward."
• Root: "proprius" means "own" or "proper."
• Suffix: "-ate" is used to form adjectives or verbs.

So, the original meaning relates to making something one's own or proper for a situation.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where wearing something might be appropriate or inappropriate?
• Have you ever seen someone appropriate something without permission? How did it feel?
• How would you explain the difference between "appropriate" and "suitable" to a friend?