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adj

decorous

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Decorous (adj) means behaving in a way that is proper, polite and fits what is expected on the occasion.

adj
1
Behaving in a way that is proper, polite and fits what is expected on the occasion.
"The green eyes in the carefully sweet face were turbulent, willful, lusty with life, distinctly at variance with her decorous demeanor." — Margaret Mitchell (1936)
"But who can fathom the subtleties of the human heart? Certainly not those who expect from it only decorous sentiments and normal emotions." — William Somerset Maugham (1919)
2
Fitting and right for the situation.
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Etymology

From the following: * Latin decōrus (“becoming, fitting, proper, suitable”) + English -ous (suffix adjectives denoting presence of a quality in any degree, typically an abundance). Decōrus is derived from decor (“elegrance, grace; charm beauty”) + -us (suffix forming adjectives); and decor is from decēre, the present active infinitive of decet (“to adorn; to be decent; to be proper or suitable”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“to perceive; to take”). * Possibly also influenced by Late Latin decorōsus (“beautiful; elegant”), from decoris + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of’ forming adjectives from nouns). Decoris is the genitive singular of decus (“beauty, grace, ornament, splendour; distinction, glory, honour”), from Proto-Indo-European *déḱos (“that which is proper”), from *deḱ- (see above).

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of decorous?
"decorous" (adj) means behaving in a way that is proper, polite and fits what is expected on the occasion.
What is another word for decorous?
Other words for "decorous" include comely, becoming, seemly.
What is the opposite of decorous?
The opposite of "decorous" is indecorous.
What are the different meanings of decorous?
"decorous" has 2 main meanings: 1. Behaving in a way that is proper, polite and fits what is expected on the occasion; 2. Fitting and right for the situation.

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Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · etymology from Wiktionary