What does decorous mean?
Word: Decorous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Decorous means polite, calm and suited to the occasion.
Synonyms: well-behaved
How do you spell decorous?
Syllables: dec - o - rous
Tricky part: The vowel after the c is an o, but it is so weak in speech that pupils write decerous or decarous.
Watch out for: decerous, decarous
Memory tip: Link it with decorate: the o straight after the c stays put in both words.
Decorous in a sentence
Example 1: The students filed out of the assembly hall in a decorous line.
Example 2: Her reply was decorous, though she clearly did not agree.
Example 3: Everyone kept a decorous silence while the national anthem played.
Fun Fact
The noun that goes with it, decorum, was borrowed straight from Latin in the 1500s with no change to its spelling, and it is still the word for calm, polite behaviour today.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Although the younger cousins were bursting with excitement, they remained deccorous throughout the long award evening and waited patiently until the photographer had finished.
a) excitement
b) throughout
c) patiently
d) deccorous
Show answer
d) deccorous. One c is enough after the opening de.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. dignified 2. decorus 3. modest 4. courteous
a) polite and thoughtful towards others
b) not boasting about what you can do
c) calm and serious in a way that earns respect
d) behaving in a quiet, proper way at a formal event
Show answer
d) behaving in a quiet, proper way at a formal event. The slip is in the ending, which should be ous.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Everyone stayed rocoseud and silent as the chief guest cut the ribbon.
a) dangerous
b) devious
c) decorous
d) generous
Show answer
c) decorous. The jumble has two o's, and no a, v, i or g, so only one word fits.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word decorous as used in the sentence:
The guests gave a decorous round of applause after the speech.
a) unruly
b) dignified
c) formal
d) restrained
Show answer
a) unruly. Unruly means wild and hard to control, the reverse of gentle, proper clapping.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which behaviour at a prize-giving would fit this word?
a) waiting for your turn and clapping at the close
b) whistling loudly from the back row
c) chatting with friends during the awards
d) leaving halfway through the main speech
Show answer
a) waiting for your turn and clapping at the close
2. Which syllable is stressed in decorous?
a) each of them
b) the second
c) the third
d) the first
Show answer
d) the first
