indecencyn.
/ɪnˈdiːsənsi/ The quality of being indecent.† 2. Uncomeliness of form. Obsolete.
1.
a. Unseemliness, unbecomingness; unbecoming or outrageous conduct.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > unseemliness or unbecomingness > [noun]
unseemlinessc1380
indecency1589
undecency1589
unbecomingness1652
indecorum1664
indecence1714
impropriety1751
indecorousness1811
society > morality > dueness or propriety > moral impropriety > [noun]
unconablenessa1340
unseemlinessc1380
ungrace1430
disconveniencec1450
unlikelinessc1485
wangrace1513
unseemingness1540
uncomeliness1542
indecency1589
undecency1589
unhandsomeness1598
unbeseemingness1623
misbecomingness1644
unbecomingness1652
indecorum1664
indecence1714
impropriety1751
indecorousness1811
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [noun] > unseemly behaviour or unseemliness
unconablenessa1340
unconabletya1340
unseemlinessc1380
ungrace1430
disconveniencec1450
unlikelinessc1485
wangrace1513
uncomeliness1542
indecency1589
undecency1589
unhandsomeness1598
unworthiness1608
inconveniencya1616
unbeseemingness1623
unbecomingness1652
indecorum1664
indecence1714
indecorousness1811
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > unfittingness > unfitting conduct > [noun]
unskillc1175
unthriftc1374
inconveniencec1460
indecency1589
unworthiness1608
inconveniencya1616
malconduct1684
mal-behaviour1721
misdealing1851
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. 228 As rude and vnciuill speaches carry a marueilous great indecencie, so doe sometimes those that be ouermuch affected and nice.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 126 An act not only of indecency, but of injustice and ingratitude against God and Nature.
1702 Eng. Theophrastus 104 We must not be too familiar with Inferiors by reason of indecency.
a1814 Ld. N. Spencer in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 261 The indecency of excluding and proscribing the English at the same time that other strangers are received.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iv. 453 The disgrace which the barbarity and indecency of so great a functionary brought upon the administration of justice.
b. With an and plural. An instance of this; an unbecoming or unseemly action, trait, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > unseemliness or unbecomingness > [noun] > instance of
indecorum1575
undecency1624
indecency1639
evagation1649
impropriety1685
sin1780
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [noun] > unseemly behaviour or unseemliness > instance of
inconvenienta1464
undecency1624
indecency1639
evagation1649
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. ii. 112 These Bishops..were fain to descend to many indecencies and indignities to support themselves.
1650 T. Hobbes in W. Davenant Disc. upon Gondibert 138 Of the Indecencies of an Heroick Poem, the most remarkable are those that shew disproportion either between the persons and their actions, or between the manners of the Poet and the Poem.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 422 A discontented Mind..throws a man into all the indecencies of Avarice, Ambition [etc.].
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > lack of beauty > ugliness > [noun] > instance of
indecency1605
ugliness1855
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 406 Th' vnpleasing blemish of deformed marks, As lips too-great, or hollownes of eies, Or sinking nose, or such in-decencies.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. B3v When I thy Parts runne o're, I can't espie In any one, the least indecencie.
3.
a. A condition which offends against personal delicacy or the recognized standards of propriety; immodesty; a quality savouring of obscenity.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > moral or spiritual impurity > indecency > [noun]
inhonesty1481
scandal1622
nastiness1650
fulsomeness1684
indecency1692
impropriety1751
blue1824
paw-pawness1828
blueness1833
gaminess1854
suggestiveness1888
purple1930
1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus Enchiridion xli If vain, or frivolous the Converse be, Or seem to savour of Indecency, Alter the Subject.
1781 S. Johnson Addison in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets V. 91 No greater felicity can genius attain than that of having purified intellectual pleasure, separated mirth from indecency, and wit from licentiousness.
1802 J. Bowles (title) Modern Female Manners, as distinguished by In~difference to Character, and Indecency of Dress.
1871 C. Darwin Descent of Man (ed. 2) i. iv. 119 The hatred of indecency..is a modern virtue.
b. With an and plural. Something indecent; esp. an indecent act, an offence against decency.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > moral or spiritual impurity > indecency > [noun] > that which is indecent
indecency1774
a bit of blue1889
scorcher1942
sizzler1957
1774 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry I. xvi. 424 Various freedoms and indecencies unsuitable to the sex.
1790 J. Beattie Elem. Moral Sci. I. i. ii. 320 Profane talkers, lewd jesters, and they who by speech or writing present to the ear or to the eye of modesty any of the indecencies I allude to, are pests of society.
1885 Law Times Rep. 52 317/1 That is an indecency which could not have been intended.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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