Apropos

Apropos is a term derived from the French phrase "à propos," which means "to the purpose" or "with reference to." It is commonly used in English to indicate that something is relevant or pertinent to the subject at hand.

Usage

In English, "apropos" can function as an adjective, adverb, or preposition. When used as an adjective, it means "appropriate" or "fitting." As an adverb, it means "by the way" or "incidentally." As a preposition, it means "with reference to" or "concerning."

Examples

• Adjective: "His comments were apropos to the discussion."
• Adverb: "Apropos, did you hear about the new policy?"
• Preposition: "Apropos of the recent events, we need to reconsider our strategy."

Etymology

The term "apropos" originates from the French phrase "à propos," which translates to "to the purpose." It entered the English language in the 17th century and has since been used to denote relevance or appropriateness.

Related Terms

• Pertinent
• Relevant
• Germane
• Apposite

See Also

• French language
• English language
• Linguistics
• Etymology