propriety
- 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
▪ They discussed the propriety of treating ill children against the wishes of the parents.
with propriety
▪ They conducted themselves with propriety.
2.) the proprieties
especially BrE the accepted rules of correct social behaviour
▪ strict in observing the proprieties
Dictionary of contemporary English.
2013.
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Look at other dictionaries:
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 — 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
