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Webster 1913 Edition


Decency

De′cen-cy

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Decencies
(#)
.
[L.
decentia
, fr.
decens
: cf. F.
décence
. See
Decent
.]
1.
The quality or state of being decent, suitable, or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form in social intercourse, in actions, or in discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony; seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty.
Observances of time, place, and of
decency
in general.
Burke.
Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of
decency
is want of sense.
Roscommon.
2.
That which is proper or becoming.
The external
decencies
of worship.
Atterbury.
Those thousand
decencies
, that daily flow
From all her words and actions.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition


Decency

DE'CENCY

,
Noun.
[L. to be fit or becoming; Gr. to be good, or fit for.]

Definition 2024


decency

decency

English

Noun

decency (countable and uncountable, plural decencies)

  1. the quality of being decent; propriety
    • Burke
      Observances of time, place, and of decency in general.
    • Roscommon
      Immodest words admit of no defence, / For want of decency is want of sense.
  2. That which is proper or becoming.
    • Atterbury
      The external decencies of worship.
    • Milton
      Those thousand decencies, that daily flow / From all her words and actions.

Translations