propriety

propriety
noun (plural -ties) Etymology: Middle English propriete, from Anglo-French proprieté, propreté property, quality of a person or thing — more at property Date: 14th century 1. obsolete true nature 2. obsolete a special characteristic ; peculiarity 3. the quality or state of being proper ; appropriateness 4. a. conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech b. fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes c. plural the customs and manners of polite society

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Propriety — Pro*pri e*ty, n.; pl. {Proprieties}. [F. propri[ e]t[ e], L. proprietas, fr. proprius one s own, proper. See {Property}, {Proper}.] 1. Individual right to hold property; ownership by personal title; property. [Obs.] Onles this propriety be exiled …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • propriety — [n1] suitableness, appropriateness accordance, advisability, agreeableness, appositeness, aptness, becomingness, compatibility, concord, congruity, consonance, convenience, correctness, correspondence, decorum, ethicality, expedience, fitness,… …   New thesaurus

  • propriety — I (appropriateness) noun accordance, adaptation, admissibility, advisability, agreeableness, applicability, aptitude, aptness, becomingness, compatibility, conformity, congruity, consonance, correspondence, dueness, equity, expedience, expediency …   Law dictionary

  • propriety — mid 15c., proper character, disposition, from O.Fr. proprieté (12c.), from L. proprietatem (nom. proprietas) appropriateness, also ownership (see PROPERTY (Cf. property)). Meaning fitness, appropriateness is attested from 1610s; sense of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • propriety — *decorum, decency, etiquette, dignity Analogous words: grace, *elegance, dignity: *form, usage, convention, convenance …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • propriety — ► NOUN (pl. proprieties) 1) correctness of behaviour or morals. 2) appropriateness; rightness. 3) (proprieties) the details or rules of conventionally accepted behaviour. ORIGIN originally in the sense «peculiarity, essential quality»: from Latin …   English terms dictionary

  • propriety — [prə prī′ə tē, prōprī′ə tē] n. pl. proprieties [ME propriete < OFr proprieté: see PROPERTY] 1. the quality of being proper, fitting, or suitable; fitness 2. conformity with what is proper or fitting 3. conformity with accepted standards of… …   English World dictionary

  • propriety — pro|pri|e|ty [prəˈpraıəti] n formal [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: propriété property, quality , from Latin proprietas; PROPERTY] 1.) [singular,U] correctness of social or moral behaviour ≠ ↑impropriety propriety of ▪ They discussed the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • propriety — noun /prəˈpraɪɪti/ a) correctness in behaviour and morals Elinor then ventured to doubt the propriety of her receiving such a present from a man so little, or at least so lately known to her. b) fitness; the quality of being appropriate Now, if… …   Wiktionary

  • propriety — As used in Massachusetts colonial ordinance of 1741 term is nearly, if not precisely, equivalent to property. In old English law, property; propriety in action; propriety in possession; mixed propriety …   Black's law dictionary

  • propriety — n. conformity with accepted standards of behavior to doubt the propriety of smt. * * * [prə praɪətɪ] [ conformity with accepted standards of behavior ] to doubt the propriety of smt …   Combinatory dictionary

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