English → Latin
“decency” in Latin
decetto adorn; to be decent, suitable, seemly, or properdecorelegance, grace; beauty, charmdecushonor, distinction, glory; pride, dignity; grace, splendor, ornament, beautymodestiamoderation, sophrosyne; modestyservōto maintain, keep; to protect, save, keep, guard, safeguard, watch over; to give heed to, pay attention to; watch, obserteneōto hold, have; to grasp; to possess, occupy, control; to watch, guard, maintain, defend; to retain, keepcustōdiōto monitor, supervise, guard; to protect, defend; to observe, take heed, watchcōnsīderōto examine, look at or inspect, survey; to consider, reflect, contemplate, meditatevideōto see, perceive; look (at); to observe, note; to understand, perceive, comprehend
The English word decency itself goes back to Latin decet, through decentia.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
decency
Fitness, decentia.
Propriety, decor: decorum: modestia (modest, well-bred behavior, opposed to immodestia): to observe the rules of decency, decorum sequi, servare, tenere or custodire: to study the rules of decency in anything, in aliqua re quid deceat, considerare, or videre: to have a sense of decency, quid deceat, sentire: anything is against the rules of decency, turpe est aliquid: to forget the rules of decency, decoris oblivisci.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for decency?
- The usual Latin words for “decency” are decet, decor, decus; also modestia, servō, teneō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.