Decency and Civility

Barrack Obama says that he values what the Queen of England stands for, decency and civility, on his first trip overseas as President of the United States. He is in London prior to the G20 summit talks due to start tomorrow.

Decency: the quality of being decent

Comes from the Middle French word decent, 'proper to one's station or rank', also tasteful; from the Latin title="decens">decēns, present participle of decet (“‘it is fitting or suitable’”); from the Proto-Indo-European *deke- from base *dek- (“‘to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable’”); (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν (dokein), “‘to appear, seem, think’”), δέχεσθαι (dekhesthai), “‘to accept’”); Sanskrit dacasyati (“‘shows honor, is gracious’”), dacati (“‘makes offerings, bestows’”).

1. Decency of a person Showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
2. Adjective: kind, pleasant meaning from 1902.

Civility: The quality of being civil

Comes from the latin word civilis (“‘relating to a citizen’”)

1. Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.

   She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people.

2. Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner.

   It was very civil of him to stop the argument.