propriety
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Late Middle English propriete (“ownership”), from Anglo-Norman proprietie, Middle French proprieté, from Latin proprietās. Compare property.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
propriety (plural proprieties)
- (obsolete) The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality. [14th-19th c.]
- (obsolete) A characteristic; an attribute. [14th-19th c.]
- (now rare) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property. [from 15th c.]
- (obsolete) More generally, something owned by someone; a possession. [15th-18th c.]
- 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:
- I was fearful of giving You a very sensible Disgust, in making You seem the Propriety of one Man, when You know Yourself ordained for the Comfort and Refreshment of Multitudes.
- 1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury:
- The fact of possessing something; ownership. [from 15th c.]
- (now rare) Correct language or pronunciation. [from 16th c.]
- Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate. [from 17th c.]
- 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer
- I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to observe them without ever debating their propriety.
- 1850, Edward Ralph May, "Speech on African American Suffrage"
- Now, if we may, with propriety, refer to the people one question, why may we not, with equal propriety, refer another?
- 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer
- Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness. [from 18th c.]
- 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 12:
- 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.
- 2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, The Onion AV Club:
- The neighbor is eventually able to sell her home despite Homer’s pants-less affronts to propriety and decency and Bart falls deeply and instantly for one of its new inhabitants, a tough but charming and funny tomboy girl named Laura (voiced by Sara Gilbert) with just the right combination of toughness and sweetness, granite and honey.
- 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 12:
Translations [edit]
fitness; the quality of being appropriate
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correctness in behaviour and morals
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