Noun, : to observe the proprieties. From Dictionary.com.
The kaleidoscope had brought certain proprieties into full observation which had for some time been unnoticed – there was no doubt about that. From Wordnik.com. [Parables From Nature] Reference
Dimly recalling the proprieties, she reluctantly drew away. From Wordnik.com. [A Lady of Expectations]
Nothing restrains him; not even the so-called proprieties of history. From Wordnik.com. [Obiter Dicta] Reference
The proprieties are the guiding principle of people without soul and virtue. From Wordnik.com. [Famous Affinities of History — Complete] Reference
I cannot say, for indeed I do not very well understand many of what are called the proprieties of custom. From Wordnik.com. [Anna St. Ives] Reference
Being made commandant of Wu-ch'ang, he transformed the character of the people by 'proprieties' and music, and was praised by the master. From Wordnik.com. [The Chinese Classics: with a translation, critical and exegetical notes, prolegomena and copious indexes (Shih ching. English) — Volume 1] Reference
He was careful at least to observe surface proprieties. From Wordnik.com. [A Political History of the State of New York, Volumes 1-3] Reference
The tenderloin would carefully observe all the proprieties. From Wordnik.com. [Little Lost Sister] Reference
I am not a disregarder of the beauties and proprieties of Dress. From Wordnik.com. [Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women On the Various Duties of Life, Physical, Intellectual, And Moral Development; Self-Culture, Improvement, Dress, Beauty, Fashion, Employment, Education, The Home Relations, Their Duties To Young Men, Marriage, Womanhood And Happiness.] Reference
He observed the proprieties and respected his good wife's wishes. From Wordnik.com. [Watch Yourself Go By] Reference
Eliza herself thought no more of the proprieties than did Mr. Bennet. From Wordnik.com. [The Heart of Arethusa] Reference
Perhaps an event in his early career may have soured him of the proprieties. From Wordnik.com. [The Book-Hunter A New Edition, with a Memoir of the Author] Reference
The sage alone could act rightly, but other people might perform "the proprieties.". From Wordnik.com. [Guide to Stoicism] Reference
He was abruptly awakened to the proprieties by Vandersee stepping forward and introducing him. From Wordnik.com. [Gold Out of Celebes] Reference
"Unless," he added sneeringly, misinterpreting her silence, "you're afraid of the proprieties?". From Wordnik.com. [The Hermit of Far End] Reference
But I know better what is to our common interest, and prefer to judge of the proprieties myself. From Wordnik.com. [Memoirs of the Union's Three Great Civil War Generals] Reference
They do it in a subdued manner, no doubt, and with a sense of proprieties, but nevertheless they do it. From Wordnik.com. [The Bibliotaph and Other People] Reference
Or is it you, child, whom she senses and greets with her innocence that's not yet tainted by proprieties?. From Wordnik.com. [Fourteen Days In November] Reference
But no matter who attends to the proprieties, the relation of the card to its owner is the same in all cases. From Wordnik.com. [Etiquette] Reference
Well, for my part, I maintain that our respect for the proprieties consists chiefly in our respect for ourselves. From Wordnik.com. [French and Oriental Love in a Harem] Reference
You are frank and honest now, or ought to be; you have not learned to imitate the falseness of so-called proprieties. From Wordnik.com. [Hold Up Your Heads, Girls! : Helps for Girls, in School and Out] Reference
He rather enjoyed this outrage upon the proprieties, forgetful altogether that the same thought had been in his own mind. From Wordnik.com. [A Bachelor's Dream] Reference
An expression of bland courtesy lay upon his features; all the proprieties of life were elaborated in his slightest movement. From Wordnik.com. [The Old Homestead] Reference
In the war between the Traiti and the Terran Empire, two things were, if not exactly sacred, proprieties that both sides respected. From Wordnik.com. [Fearful Symmetry A Terran Empire novel] Reference
The spinster received Reuben with much warmth, in which her stately proprieties of manner, however, were never for one moment forgotten. From Wordnik.com. [The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865] Reference
Northern armies are respectively able to read, or are otherwise personally familiar with the decencies and proprieties of civilized life. From Wordnik.com. [The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862 Devoted To Literature And National Policy] Reference
Make it not any longer a matter of dispute or discourse, what are the signs and proprieties of a good man, but really and actually to be such. From Wordnik.com. [Meditations] Reference
It appears that Bentham and his school do not observe the proprieties of language in identifying the moral good, the moral right, with pleasure. From Wordnik.com. [Morality as a Religion An exposition of some first principles] Reference
Stout gentlemen of a certain age, brimful of proprieties, shake their heads alarmingly, and talk of the folly of boys; as if they were the only fools. From Wordnik.com. [Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, Number 358, August 1845] Reference
But this was to her a supremely different existence, and she tried hard to recall all she had seen and heard and read of etiquette and the proprieties. From Wordnik.com. [The Adventures of Uncle Jeremiah and Family at the Great Fair Their Observations and Triumphs] Reference
We should have been very sorry if such a "splendiferous" phenomenon had been obscured by envious boa or pelisse, or lost to the proprieties of costume. From Wordnik.com. [Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 56, Number 347, September, 1844] Reference
He was about to repeat the "sonny" that had grated a little on Ned's sense of the proprieties but he stopped short -- and added: "Have you a card, Mr. --?". From Wordnik.com. [The Air Ship Boys : Or, the Quest of the Aztec Treasure] Reference
These efforts are all admirable in their way, and give evidences of fine literary taste, great good judgment, and what Dickens called "a sense of the proprieties.". From Wordnik.com. [The Life, Public Services and Select Speeches of Rutherford B. Hayes] Reference
Fortunately, I could disguise my real feeling, and I merely relate the incident to give you an idea of the sense of the proprieties as entertained by certain Americans. From Wordnik.com. [As A Chinaman Saw Us Passages from his Letters to a Friend at Home] Reference
She was mindful of the proprieties, however, and turning her eyes back upon the lady opposite, she pressed a dainty handkerchief to her countenance, and murmured plaintively. From Wordnik.com. [Madeline Payne, the Detective's Daughter] Reference
Perhaps it may sometimes seem that there is little relation, possibly even some antagonism, between the sincerity of perfect courtesy and the proprieties of formal etiquette. From Wordnik.com. [Etiquette] Reference
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