nicety

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English nicetee, from Old French niceté (“simpleness, foolishness”), from nice (“simple, foolish”); equivalent to nice +‎ -ty. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈnaɪsɪti/ === Noun === nicety (countable and uncountable, plural niceties) A small detail or distinction. Subtlety or precision of use; exactness; preciseness. A delicacy of character or feeling usually from excessive refinement; fastidiousness. Synonym of social nicety. (obsolete) That which is delicate to the taste. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === nicety Behaving in an unpleasant or spiteful way that is seemingly, or perceived as, pleasant or agreeable. ==== Further reading ==== “nicety”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “nicety”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “nicety”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.