nicety

[nahy-si-tee] /ˈnaɪ sɪ ti/
noun, plural niceties.
1.
a delicate or fine point; punctilio:
niceties of protocol.
2.
a fine distinction; subtlety; detail:
the niceties of the filigree work.
3.
Usually, niceties. a refined, elegant, or choice feature, as of manner or living:
working hard to acquire the niceties of life.
4.
exactness or precision.
5.
the quality of being nice; niceness.
6.
delicacy of character, as of something requiring care or tact:
a matter of considerable nicety.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English: silliness, extravagance, cleverness < Old French niceté. See nice, -ty
Related forms
overnicety, noun, plural overniceties.
Can be confused
nice, niceness, nicety.
Examples from the web for nicety
  • He might say that governing in a minority obliges him to play fast and loose with parliamentary nicety.
  • Another nicety is that the first time you use an effect, an overlay appears with clear instructions.
  • IT is a question of some nicety to decide how much must be read of any particular poet.
  • Diplomatic nicety had completely compromised the mission.
  • What used to be a mathematical nicety is essential in the curved space setting.
  • Statistical nicety will be better served if the criterion selected remains invariant.
  • There's no legal requirement to do this as a nicety.
  • Bond came in deservingly for much commendation at the proficiency and nicety displayed by his pupils.
British Dictionary definitions for nicety

nicety

/ˈnaɪsɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
a subtle point of delicacy or distinction: a nicety of etiquette
2.
(usually pl) a refinement or delicacy: the niceties of first-class travel
3.
subtlety, delicacy, or precision
4.
excessive refinement; fastidiousness
5.
to a nicety, with precision
Word Origin and History for nicety
n.

mid-14c., "folly, stupidity," from Old French niceté "foolishness, childishness, simplicity," from nice "silly" (see nice). Underwent sense evolution parallel to nice, arriving at "minute, subtle point" 1580s and "exactitude" in 1650s. Phrase to a nicety "exactly" is attested from 1795.