Niceties
/ˈnaɪs.ɪ.tiz/noun
Subtle or fine details; the quality of being nice or agreeable.
Did you know?The root of 'niceties' is tied to the Latin word for 'ignorance', suggesting that what we now cherish as politeness once hinted at a lack of awareness.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
nescius
“Ignorant, unaware.”
Old French
Old French
niceté
“Foolishness, ignorance.”
Middle English
Middle English
nicete
“Foolishness or ignorance, later shifting to elegance.”
14th Century
English
nicety
“Subtlety or fineness in detail, initially used in a more negative context.”
Modern English
English
niceties
“Refined or agreeable details.”