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Nicety

//ˈnaɪsɪti// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Behaving in an unpleasant or spiteful way that is seemingly, or perceived as, pleasant or agreeable.

    "Now, believe me, I know just how tempting it is to come back with a snarky reply in the comments of these videos. I've done it here and there just to scratch the itch. It's because I've had a lot of training on how to be nicety. It was a survival tactic at Tesla. It has literally become an automatic response for me."

Noun
  1. 1
    A small detail or distinction. countable, uncountable

    "We met the new captain while we were taking enemy fire and were unable to observe the niceties of formal introductions."

  2. 2
    conformity with some esthetic standard of correctness or propriety wordnet
  3. 3
    Subtlety or precision of use; exactness; preciseness. countable, uncountable

    "A rocket-propelled grenade doesn't have the nicety of a sniper round, but you must admit its effectiveness."

  4. 4
    a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude wordnet
  5. 5
    A delicacy of character or feeling usually from excessive refinement; fastidiousness. countable, uncountable

    "[I]f you knew how Selina feels with respect to sleeping at an inn, you would not wonder at Mrs. Churchill’s making incredible exertions to avoid it. Selina says it is quite horror to her—and I believe I have caught a little of her nicety."

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  1. 6
    Synonym of social nicety. countable, uncountable

    "To be sure, 2012 marks an emphatic end to the bygone courtesy of allowing the other campaign to have its convention moment. But the traditional nicety began unraveling at least two or three election cycles ago."

  2. 7
    That which is delicate to the taste. countable, obsolete, uncountable

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English nicetee, from Old French niceté (“simpleness, foolishness”), from nice (“simple, foolish”); equivalent to nice + -ty.

Etymology 2

From Middle English nicetee, from Old French niceté (“simpleness, foolishness”), from nice (“simple, foolish”); equivalent to nice + -ty.

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