nicety

English

Etymology

From Middle English nicetee, from Old French niceté (“simpleness, foolishness”), from nice (“simple, foolish”); see nice.

Noun

nicety (plural niceties)

1. A small detail that is nice or polite to have but isn't necessary.

   We met the new captain while we were taking enemy fire and were unable to observe the niceties of formal introductions.

2. Subtlety or precision of use.

   A rocket propelled grenade doesn't have the nicety of a sniper round, but you must admit its effectiveness.

Derived terms

• to a nicety

Translations

small detail that is nice or polite but not necessary

Russian: деталь (ru) f.

subtlety or precision of use

Russian: точность (tóčnost’) f.

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

Japanese: 微妙 (びみょう, bimyō)

External links

• nicety in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• nicety in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• nicety at OneLook Dictionary Search