ˈdekərəs also -krəs; də̇ˈkōr-, dēˈk-, -ˈkȯr- adjective
Etymology: Latin decorus, from decor beauty, grace; akin to Latin decēre to be fitting — more at decent
: marked by propriety and good taste especially in conduct, manners, or appearance : characterized by conformity to accepted social standards and by unruffled staidness, correctness, or dignity
when off the air are as decorous and restrained as they are volcanic while performing — G.S.Perry
the decorous symbols of Victorian art — Ellen Glasgow
a courtier's laugh, decorous , brief, and not too hearty — J.H.Wheelwright
Synonyms:
decent , seemly , proper , nice , comme il faut , demure : decorous denotes an observance of all proprieties and sometimes connotes dignified or prim formality
we, of course, maintained a most decorous exterior; and hence, by all the elderly people of the village, were doubtless regarded as pattern young men — Herman Melville
the tête-à-tête had proved decorous in the extreme, and he had returned the willful maiden to her doorstep without so much as brushing her lips with his — Herman Wouk
decent , as here considered detached from matters of sexual morality, suggests the fitting, appropriate, or accustomed, according to good taste or form
the dead face on the pillow, which Dolly had smoothed with decent care — George Eliot
nobody cares a straw for the internal administration of native states so long as oppression and crime are kept within decent limits — Rudyard Kipling
seemly stresses lack of discord with propriety and taste and may also suggest a pleasing appearance or manner
for generations the Twyfords had drunk tea here at a seemly hour — Sinclair Lewis
it was reckoned to him a major sin that he forgot his manners, for must not the Lord's work be carried on in seemly fashion, and the money changers be scourged from the temple politely? — V.L.Parrington
proper stresses unquestioned conformity with social conventions, sometimes a stiff or prissy conformity
Henchard's creed was that proper young girls wrote ladies' hand — Thomas Hardy
but it is only proper that you first tell your husband distinctly that you are without any [money], and see what he will do — Thomas Hardy
nice in this sense suggests a complete and choice correctness in matters social
the small provincial gentry of the West, as drawn by Miss Austen … are nice in their gentility almost to a fault — G.M.Trevelyan
we've always been religious, Mother, and nice people in Queenborough go to church no matter what they believe — Ellen Glasgow
comme il faut , more common in the 19th century than the 20th, implies complete correctness in polite society
this remark, if the young lady had made it, would have been perfectly comme il faut; but, being made by the young gentleman, it was a most heinous and irremissible offense — T.L.Peacock
demure stresses a modest demeanor more than a staid propriety
but lowering her glance unexpectedly till her dark eyelashes seemed to rest against her white cheeks she presented a perfectly demure aspect — Joseph Conrad
Leora appeared as his assistant, very pretty and demure in a nurse's costume — Sinclair Lewis