Propriety

Quick meaning: Propriety is a noun meaning (now rare) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property.

Meaning

(now rare) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property.

More Meanings

1. The fact of possessing something; ownership.
2. (now rare) Correct language or pronunciation.
3. Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate.
4. (often in the plural) Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness.
5. (obsolete) The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality.
6. (obsolete) A characteristic; an attribute.
7. (obsolete) More generally, something owned by someone; a possession.

Example Sentences

Now, if we may, with propriety, refer to the people one question, why may we not, with equal propriety, refer another?

I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to observe them without ever debating their propriety.

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.

This ſweet word, I will be your God, implies, 1. Propriety, that all that is in God ſhall be ours; his love ours, his Spirit ours, his mercy ours.

Word Forms

• proprieties

Synonyms for propriety

Depending on context, synonyms include peculiarity, specialty, individuality, particularity, singularity, specificity.

Antonyms for propriety

Common opposites include impropriety, improperness.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include correctitude, properness, reasonableness, soundness, integrity, rightness.

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