• Propriety

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /pɹəˈpɹaɪəti/
    • Rhymes: -aɪɪti

    Origin

    Late Middle English propriete ("ownership"), from Anglo-Norman proprietie, Middle French proprieté, from Latin proprietās. Compare property.

    Full definition of propriety

    Noun

    propriety

    (plural proprieties)
    1. (obsolete) The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality. 14th-19th c.
    2. (obsolete) A characteristic; an attribute. 14th-19th c.
    3. (now rare) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property. from 15th c.
    4. (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.
    5. The fact of possessing something; ownership. from 15th c.
    6. (now rare) Correct language or pronunciation. from 16th c.
    7. Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate. from 17th c.
      • 1773, Oliver Goldsmith, 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,Now, if we may, with propriety, refer to the people one question, why may we not, with equal propriety, refer another?
    8. Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness. from 18th c.

    Related terms

    © Wiktionary