[ad. L. appropriātiōn-em, n. of action f. appropriā-re: see APPROPRIATE and -TION.]
1. The making of a thing private property, whether another’s or (as now commonly) one’s own; taking as one’s own or to one’s own use; concr. the thing so appropriated or taken possession of.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 240. I wolde … Of other mannes love iwis … Have made appropriation.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 172. In dying men … there is an application of medicines, but not an appropriation.
a. 1711. Ken, Christoph., Wks. 1721, I. 494. When God, my God, with confidence they call, Appropriation makes amends for all.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ., III. § 1. 252. To employ labour in the production or appropriation of a commodity.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 1. 7. The rapacious appropriation of the abbey lands.
2. Eccl. The transference to a monastic house, or other corporation, of the tithes and endowments intended for the maintenance of religious ordinances in a parish; concr. the benefice or tithes so appropriated.
c. 1370. Wyclif, Agst. Beg. Friers (1608), 14. This appropriation is made by false suggestion that such religious men han not enough for lifelode.
1528. Perkins, Profit. Bk., xi. § 811 (1642), 363. If a man bee bounden for to appropriate a Church … and afterwards before the appropriation a pension is graunted out of the same.
a. 1641. Spelman, Tithes, 152 (R.). In old time whilest these Churches were in the Clergy-hand, they were called Appropriations, because they were appropriate to a particular succession of Church-men.
1876. Green, Short Hist., viii. 495. To meet it by buying up the appropriations of livings.
3. The assignment of anything to a special purpose; concr. the thing so assigned, esp. a sum of money set apart for any purpose. Appropriation Bill: a Bill in Parliament, allotting the revenue to the various purposes to which it is to be applied.
1789. Const. U.S., i. § 9. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ., II. § 2. 73. The consequent appropriation of particular individuals to particular employments.
1858. Fonblanque, How we are Gov., vii. 58 (L.). The resolutions in Committee of Supply are embodied into what is called the Appropriation Bill.
† 4. Special attribution or application; specialization; concr. a special attribute. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. ii. 46. Hee makes it a great appropriation to his owne good parts, that he can shoo him [his horse] himselfe.
1657. W. Coles, Adam in Eden, Introd. A Table of the Appropriations shewing for what part every Plant is medicinable.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. iii. 190. The particular Name that belongs to every one [thing], with its peculiar appropriation to that Idea.
