propriety means the particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality. It carries an Arena rating of 1526, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, propriety ranks #583 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #1,977 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #3,573 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #7,077 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
propriety is pronounced /pɹəˈpɹaɪəti/.
Why “propriety” is a great word
Propriety is conformity to established standards of behavior or manners, especially in matters of social conduct. From late Middle English proprietee, propretee, propriete ('ownership'), borrowed from Anglo-Norman propreté and Middle French proprieté, from Latin proprietās ('ownership, property, peculiarity'). Unlike decorum, which is dignified performance suitable to an occasion, or etiquette, which is the codified script of manners, propriety is the internalized, often unspoken sense of what is fitting and one's own. It is the quiet restraint in a glance held a moment too long, the precise thickness of a mourning veil, and the correct temperature of a served tea—the silent architecture of a shared life, built to keep the vast, formless sea of human impulse politely at bay.
Etymology
From late Middle English proprietee, propretee, propriete (“ownership”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman propreté, Middle French proprieté, from Latin proprietās. By surface analysis, prop(e)r + -iety. Doublet of property.
noun
- The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality.
- A characteristic; an attribute.
- A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property.
- More generally, something owned by someone; a possession.e.g.“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.
- Correct language or pronunciation.
- Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate.e.g.“I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to observe them without ever debating their propriety.” — 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer:
- Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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