Dutch

Noun

zede f ‎(plural zeden)

1. a norms or habit practiced by a certain people that is considered to be just and desirable by them
2. (in the plural) mores, especially sexual mores
   • 2016 May 15, "Schepen, supporters en smokkelwaar: de geboorte van Het Legioen", NOS.

     Tijdens de vaart bleef het vertier niet beperkt tot voetbal. Er waren ook dames van lichte zeden (die zouden dan weer via Amsterdam gekomen zijn), er was een priester en een dominee aan boord voor-het-geval-dat en musicus Cor Steyn hief wel duizend keer het 'Hand in hand' aan op zijn hammondorgel.‎

     Entertainment wasn't confined to football during the voyage. There were prostitutes (who are said to have come from Amsterdam) as well, there was a priest and a minister just in case and musician Cor Steyn began playing 'Hand in hand' over a thousand times on his Hammond organ.

   lichte zeden‎ ― loose sexual morals

   zedenpolitie‎ ― police unit focusing on sex crimes

Usage notes

The word is often used in its plural form. As a consequence the plural is somtimes reinterpreted as a singular in some dialects, giving rise to a new plural zedens. Such a usage is not widespread and is not considered standard.

Derived terms

• zedelijk
• zedelijkheid
• zedeloos
• zedendelict
• zedendelinquent
• zedenkunde
• zedenmeester
• zedig

Anagrams

• deze