decorous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decorous
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 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that is decorous is dignified, proper, and in good taste, like your decorous great-aunt who always wears a dress — even when she's only headed to the grocery store. The adjective decorous shares its origins with decoration. Both words come from the Latin word decor, meaning "beauty, elegance, charm, grace, ornament." So, something decorous is attractive. Decorous can also mean "dignified or proper," like your decorous habit of saying, "How do you do?" when you meet someone for the first time.
Vocabulary lists containing decorous
Grade 12, List 2
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The Scarlet Letter
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"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Decorous Mr. Taylor hastily suggested that they all go see the President.
From Time Magazine Archive
Decorous though the demonstration was, the protestors left no doubt about their anger over what they saw as the suppression of freedom.
From Time Magazine Archive
Decorous and restrained, the debaters scarcely laid a glove on one another, not even on Bush, who, on the eve of this week's New Hampshire primary, seemed to be making headway.
From Time Magazine Archive
Decorous dinner-jacketed British fight fans and their evening-gowned ladies assembled last week at the London Stadium Club to witness a charity boxing tournament.
From Time Magazine Archive
Decorous words beseem the learned lip, But Poets have the nicer scholarship.
From Forty-Two Poems by Flecker, James Elroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
