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decorus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word decorus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (decet)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [dɛˈkoː.rʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈkɔː.rus][1]

Forms

decōrus (feminine decōra, neuter decōrum, adverb decōrē); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from decor “seemliness, beauty”, from the root of decet “it is fitting”, formed like ⟨honōrus⟩ from ⟨honor⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of what is seemly.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant seemly, fitting, decent, as in Plautus, and in Sallust good-looking, handsome.[2] In Tacitus it meant graceful, elegant, and in Cicero honourable, glorious.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant comely, fitting, seemly, proper.[5] British Medieval Latin used it for beautiful, neat, orderly, adorned.[6] Its neuter decōrum became a noun for propriety, and the adjective gave English decorous in the 1660s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of the seemly.[2][4]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it of good looks.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the honourable.[2][4]
  • 1660s – English decorous is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Seemly, fitting, decent.[2]
  2. Good-looking, handsome.[2]
  3. Graceful.[2]
  4. Honourable, glorious.[2]

Word family

  • dēdecōrus
  • indecōrus
  • perdecōrus
  • decōrum

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Decorus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/decorus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·