/ prəˈpraɪəti; NAmE / noun ( formal )
1.
[ U ] moral and social behaviour that is considered to be correct and acceptable :
Nobody questioned the propriety of her being there alone.
OPP impropriety
2.
the proprieties [ pl. ] the rules of correct behaviour
SYN etiquette :
They were careful to observe the proprieties.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense peculiarity, essential quality ): from Old French propriete , from Latin proprietas , from proprius one's own, particular.