11 results for: decorum

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·co·rum

Audio Help [di-kawr-uh

–noun

1.	dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

2.	the quality or state of being decorous; orderliness; regularity.

3.	Usually, decorums. an observance or requirement of polite society.

[Origin: 1560–70; < L decōrum, n. use of neut. of decōrus decorous

]

—Synonyms 1. politeness, manners, dignity. See etiquette.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
decorum

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·co·rum Audio Help (dĭ-kôr'əm, -kōr'-) Pronunciation Key
n.

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety: "In the Ireland of the 1940's ... the stolidity of a long, empty, grave face was thought to be the height of decorum and profundity" (John McGahern).
decorums The conventions or requirements of polite behavior: the formalities and decorums of a military funeral.
The appropriateness of an element of an artistic or literary work, such as style or tone, to its particular circumstance or to the composition as a whole.

[Latin decōrum, from decōrus, becoming, handsome; see decorous.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
decorum

1568, from L. neuter of decorus "fit, proper," from decor (see decor). Decorous is attested from 1664.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

decorum
noun
propriety in manners and conduct [ant: indecorousness]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
decorum [diˈkoːrəm] noun

quiet, dignified and proper behaviour
Example: The man behaved with decorum in the old lady's presence.

Arabic:	حِشْمَه، لَياقَه، ذَوْق
Chinese (Simplified):	礼节，端庄，礼貌
Chinese (Traditional):	禮節，端莊，禮貌
Czech:	dobré způsoby
Danish:	anstændighed; etikette
Dutch:	decorum
Estonian:	väärikus
Finnish:	arvokkuus
French:	décorum
German:	der Anstand
Greek:	ευπρέπεια
Hungarian:	tisztesség
Icelandic:	háttprÿði
Indonesian:	sopan
Italian:	decoro

Japanese:	礼儀正しさ
Korean:	예의 바름, 몸가짐이 단정함
Latvian:	pieklājība; etiķete
Lithuanian:	prideramas elgesys
Norwegian:	anstendighet, folkeskikk, verdighet
Polish:	dobre maniery
Portuguese (Brazil):	decoro
Portuguese (Portugal):	decoro
Romanian:	maniere
Russian:	благопристойность
Slovak:	slušné spôsoby
Slovenian:	spodobnost
Spanish:	decoro
Swedish:	anständighet, dekorum, värdighet
Turkish:	edep, terbiye

See also: decorous

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decorum

De"cent\, a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. ? to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d?c to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. d['e]cent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deig?.]

1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. --Shak.

Before his decent steps. --Milton.

2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.

3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic]

A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy decent shoulders drawn. --Milton.

By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. --Pope.

4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person.

A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. --Burke. -- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decorum

De*co"rous\ (?; 277), a. [L. dec[=o]rus, fr. decor comeliness, beauty; akin to decere. See Decent, and cf. Decorum.] Suitable to a character, or to the time, place, and occasion; marked with decorum; becoming; proper; seemly; befitting; as, a decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge.

A decorous pretext the war. --Motley. -- De*co"rous*ly, adv. -- De*co"rous*ness, n.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decorum

De*cor"um\, n. [L. dec[=o]rum, fr. dec[=o]rus. See Decorous.] Propriety of manner or conduct; grace arising from suitableness of speech and behavior to one's own character, or to the place and occasion; decency of conduct; seemliness; that which is seemly or suitable.

Negligent of the duties and decorums of his station. --Hallam.

If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. --Shak.

Syn: Decorum, Dignity.

Usage: Decorum, in accordance with its etymology, is that which is becoming in outward act or appearance; as, the decorum of a public assembly. Dignity springs from an inward elevation of soul producing a corresponding effect on the manners; as, dignity of personal appearance.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decorum

Negligent of the duties and decorums of his station. --Hallam.

If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. --Shak.

Syn: Decorum, Dignity.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decorum

Dig"ni*ty\, n.; pl. Dignities. [OE. dignete, dignite, OF. dignet['e], dignit['e], F. dignit['e], fr. L. dignitas, from dignus worthy. See Dainty, Deign.]

1. The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or character; true worth; excellence.

2. Elevation; grandeur.

The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings. --Shak.

3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation. --Macaulay.

And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? --Esth. vi. 3.

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. --Gen. xlix. 3.

4. Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of ??en, manner, style, etc.

A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought ??d language. --Macaulay.

5. One holding high rank; a dignitary.

These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities. --Jude. 8.

6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [Obs.]

Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves. --Sir T. Browne.

Syn: See Decorum.

To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character.

They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give their minds to being or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody else. --R. G. White.

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