Appropriate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appropriated; p. pr. & vb. n. Appropriating.]
1. To take to one's self in exclusion of others; to claim or use as by an exclusive right; as, let no man appropriate the use of a common benefit.
2. To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, in exclusion of all others; -- with to or for; as, a spot of ground is appropriated for a garden; to appropriate money for the increase of the navy.
3. To make suitable; to suit. [Archaic] Paley.
4. (Eng. Eccl. Law)
1 more senses
To annex, as a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its property. Blackstone.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Appropriate, a.
Set apart for a particular use or person. Hence: Belonging peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; fit; proper. In its strict and appropriate meaning. Porteus. Appropriate acts of divine worship. Stillingfleet. It is not at all times easy to find words appropriate to express our ideas. Locke.
Appropriate, n.
A property; attribute. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for appropriate; he lists it under abstract, apportion, assume.
Where he writes about it:
The central idea of withdrawing makes abstract in common speech a euphemism for appropriate (unlawfully), purloin, steal. — from abstract