Fraction \Frac"tion\, n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking,
fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.]
1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially
by violence. [Obs.]
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Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to
any fraction or breaking up. --Foxe.
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2. A portion; a fragment.
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Some niggard fractions of an hour. --Tennyson.
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3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or
whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a
unit or magnitude.
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Common fraction, or Vulgar fraction, a fraction in which
the number of equal parts into which the integer is
supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters,
called the denominator, written below a line, over which
is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts
included in the fraction; as 1/2, one half, 2/5, two
fifths.
Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed
number in the numerator or denominator, or in both.
--Davies & Peck.
Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more
fractions connected by of.
Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction,
etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc.
Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is
greater than the denominator.
Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less
than the denominator.
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Proper \Prop"er\, a. [OE. propre, F. propre, fr. L. proprius.
Cf. Appropriate.]
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1. Belonging to one; one's own; individual. "His proper good"
[i. e., his own possessions]. --Chaucer. "My proper son."
--Shak.
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Now learn the difference, at your proper cost,
Betwixt true valor and an empty boast. --Dryden.
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2. Belonging to the natural or essential constitution;
peculiar; not common; particular; as, every animal has his
proper instincts and appetites.
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Those high and peculiar attributes . . . which
constitute our proper humanity. --Coleridge.
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3. 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.
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The proper study of mankind is man. --Pope.
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In Athens all was pleasure, mirth, and play,
All proper to the spring, and sprightly May.
--Dryden.
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4. Becoming in appearance; well formed; handsome. [Archaic]
"Thou art a proper man." --Chaucer.
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Moses . . . was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child. --Heb. xi.
23.
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5. 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.
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6. Rightly so called; strictly considered; as, Greece proper;
the garden proper.
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7. (Her.) Represented in its natural color; -- said of any
object used as a charge.
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In proper, individually; privately. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.
Proper flower or Proper corolla (Bot.), one of the single
florets, or corollets, in an aggregate or compound flower.
Proper fraction (Arith.) a fraction in which the numerator
is less than the denominator.
Proper nectary (Bot.), a nectary separate from the petals
and other parts of the flower. -- Proper noun (Gram.), a
name belonging to an individual, by which it is
distinguished from others of the same class; -- opposed to
common noun; as, John, Boston, America.
Proper perianth or Proper involucre (Bot.), that which
incloses only a single flower.
Proper receptacle (Bot.), a receptacle which supports only
a single flower or fructification.
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