decorous

[ dek-er-uhs, dih-kawr-uhs, -kohr- ]
See synonyms for decorous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. characterized by dignified propriety in conduct, manners, appearance, character, etc.

Origin of decorous

1
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin decōrus “seemly, becoming,” derivative of decus (stem decor- ) “an ornament, splendor, honor,” akin to decēre “to be acceptable, be fitting” and docēre “to teach” (i.e., “to make fitting”) + adjective suffix -ōsus; see decent, docent,-ous

Other words for decorous

Opposites for decorous

Other words from decorous

  • dec·o·rous·ly, adverb
  • dec·o·rous·ness, noun
  • non·dec·o·rous, adjective
  • non·dec·o·rous·ly, adverb
  • non·deco·rous·ness, noun
  • un·dec·o·rous, adjective
  • un·dec·o·rous·ly, adverb
  • un·dec·o·rous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use decorous in a sentence

  • You can help me better by trying to behave decorously, and by keeping the other children quiet when they are in the drawing-room.

    Marjorie's Busy Days | Carolyn Wells
  • They chatted volubly over this idiosyncrasy, and even laughed at it, but quite decorously so that our feelings might be spared.

  • Her eyes hinted of a recent stormy past, but once more she was decorously apparelled.

    The Wrong Twin | Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for decorous

decorous

/ (ˈdɛkərəs) /


adjective
  1. characterized by propriety in manners, conduct, etc

Origin of decorous

1
C17: from Latin decōrus, from decor elegance

Derived forms of decorous

  • decorously, adverb
  • decorousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012