indecency
UK[ɪnˈdiːs(ə)nsi]US[ɪnˈdiːs(ə)nsi]
n
behaviour that is morally or sexually offensive
n
an act or statement that is considered offensive or shocking
Morpheme Breakdown
in
dec
ency
in
not
dec
proper, fitting
ency
state or quality
Etymology
The word 'indecency' charts a clear path from a classical concept of propriety to a modern notion of offense. Its core lies in the latin verb decere, meaning "to be fitting or suitable," which also gives us 'decent' and 'decorum'. The prefix in- negates this core, creating the latin indecentia, meaning "unseemliness" or "impropriety." Borrowed into english, the suffix evolved to the more familiar -ency, solidifying the abstract noun form. Thus, the literal "state of not being fitting" evolved to specifically denote behavior or acts that violate accepted standards of modesty or morality.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + dec (proper, fitting) + ency (state or quality)
- in: a latin prefix meaning "not" or "without".
- dec: a bound root derived from latin decens, decent- (present participle of decere "to be fitting"), meaning "proper" or "fitting".
- ency: a noun-forming suffix from latin -entia, denoting a state, condition, or quality.
Examples
The film was banned on grounds of indecency.
He was arrested for public indecency.
She accused the newspaper of publishing indecencies.