different between decorous vs exemplary

English

Etymology

From Latin dec?rus (“seemly, becoming”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?k???s/

Adjective

decorous (comparative more decorous, superlative most decorous)

1. Marked by proper behavior.
   • 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft, chapter V, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 3rd edition, London: J. Jonson, published 1796, section III, pages 219–220:

     The narrow path of truth and virtue inclines neither to the right nor left—it is a ?traightforward bu?ine?s, and they who are earne?tly pur?uing their road, may bound over many decorous prejudices, without leaving mode?ty behind.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 61,^[1]

     There came a day when the round of decorous pleasures and solemn gaieties in which Mr. Jos Sedley’s family indulged was interrupted by an event which happens in most houses.

   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 43

     But who can fathom the subtleties of the human heart? Certainly not those who expect from it only decorous sentiments and normal emotions.

   • 1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, Part One, Chapter 1^[2]

     The green eyes in the carefully sweet face were turbulent, willful, lusty with life, distinctly at variance with her decorous demeanor.

Antonyms

• indecorous

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle French exemplaire (“exemplary; a copy, facsimile; an example; a sample, specimen”), from Latin exempl?ris (“exemplary; a copy, facsimile”), from exemplum (“an example; a sample; a copy or transcript”). Doublet of exemplar.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???z?mpl??i/, /?k-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???z?mpl??i/, /??-/
• Hyphenation: ex?em?pla?ry

Adjective

exemplary (comparative more exemplary, superlative most exemplary)

1. Deserving honour, respect and admiration.
2. Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated; ideal, perfect.
3. Serving as a warning; monitory.
4. Providing an example or illustration.

Synonyms

• (all senses): exemplar (adjective) (obsolete)
• (serving as a warning): admonitory

Translations

Noun

exemplary (plural exemplaries)

1. (obsolete) An example, or typical instance.
2. (obsolete) A copy of a book or a piece of writing.

Synonyms

• exemplar
• paradigm

Related terms