Meaning
DE'CENCY, n. [L. to be fit or becoming; Gr. to be good, or fit for.]
1. That which is fir, suitable or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form, in social intercourse, in actions or discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony. It has a special reference to behavior; as decency of conduct; decency of worship. but it is used also in reference to speech; as, he discoursed with decency.
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow
From all her words and actions.
2. Suitableness to character; propriety.
3. Propriety in speech; modesty; opposed to ribaldry, or obscenity.
Want of decency is want of sense.
It may be also used for propriety of speech, opposed to rudeness, or disrespectful language; and for propriety in dress, opposed to raggedness, exposure of nakedness, filthiness, _c.
