n.
Pronunciation: pr ə - ' pr ī - ə -t ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
Etymology: Middle English propriete, from Anglo-French proprieté, propreté property, quality of a person or thing ― more at PROPERTY
Date: 14th century
1 obsolete : true nature
2 obsolete : a special characteristic : PECULIARITY
3 : the quality or state of being proper : APPROPRIATENESS
4 a : conformity to what is socially acceptable in conduct or speech b : fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes c plural : the customs and manners of polite society