propriety

Noun

propriety (countable and uncountable, plural proprieties)

1. (obsolete) The particular character or essence of someone or something; individuality.

   Synonyms:

   peculiarity, specialty, individuality, particularity, singularity, specificity, specificness

2. (obsolete) A characteristic; an attribute.

   Synonyms:

   trait, quality, race, attribute, characteristic, designation, vein, distinctiveness, feature, hallmark

3. (archaic) A piece of land owned by someone; someone's property.
4. (obsolete) More generally, something owned by someone; a possession.
   • 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.1723, Charles Walker, Memoirs of the Life of Sally Salisbury

   Synonyms:

   belongings, property, aught, owndom, possession

5. The fact of possessing something; ownership.
   • 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.1671, Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, page 49

   Synonyms:

   possession, proprietorship, owndom, ownership

6. (archaic) Correct language or pronunciation.
   • Thoſe who ought to be the guardians of propriety are often the perverters of it. Hence Accidence for Accidents, Prepoſtor for Prepoſitor and Conſtur for Conſtrue[…]1791, John Walker, “Construe”, in A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 162
7. Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate.
   • I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your commands, that I take care to observe them without ever debating their propriety.1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer
   • Now, if we may, with propriety, refer to the people one question, why may we not, with equal propriety, refer another?1850, Edward Ralph May, Speech on African American Suffrage
8. (in plural, often) Correctness in behaviour and morals; good manners, seemliness.
   • “Divine receptacle of excellence, let it not be deemed impertinent, or deviating from the rules of propriety, if I propound one queſtion which now labours in my breaſt; aſſuring me firſt, you will not let the ſceptre of true judgment depart from your right hand.”1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 11
   • 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.1811, [Jane Austen], “Chapter 12”, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   decency, integrity, rectitude, angelicality, angelicalness, angelicity, angelicness, godliness, honesty, honor