PROPRIETY

propriety, properness, correctitude

(noun) correct or appropriate behavior

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

propriety (countable and uncountable, plural proprieties)

(obsolete) The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality. [15th-20th c.]

(obsolete) A characteristic; an attribute. [15th-20th c.]

(now rare) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property. [from 16th c.]

(obsolete) More generally, something owned by someone; a possession. [16th-19th c.]

The fact of possessing something; ownership. [from 16th c.]

(now rare) Correct language or pronunciation. [from 17th c.]

Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate. [from 18th c.]

(often, in the plural) Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness. [from 19th c.]

Source: Wiktionary


Pro*pri"e*ty, n.; pl. Proprieties. Etym: [F. propriété, 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." Robynson (More's Utopia). So are the proprieties of a wife to be disposed of by her lord, and yet all are for her provisions, it being a part of his need to refresh and supply hers. Jer. Taylor.

2. That which is proper or peculiar; an inherent property or quality; peculiarity. [Obs.] Bacon. We find no mention hereof in ancient zoögraphers, . . . who seldom forget proprieties of such a nature. Sir T. Browne.

3. The quality or state of being proper; suitableness to an acknowledged or correct standard or rule; consonance with established principles, rules, or customs; fitness; appropriateness; as, propriety of behavior, language, manners, etc. "The rule of propriety," Locke.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

26 June 2024

INCORPORATE

(verb) include or contain; have as a component; “A totally new idea is comprised in this paper”; “The record contains many old songs from the 1930’s”


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Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

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