Proper conduct or behavior that follows the rules of what is socially acceptable and polite.
From French 'bienséance,' derived from 'bien' (well) and 'séance' (sitting or propriety). The term evolved in 17th-century France to describe courtly decorum and social etiquette standards.
This word captures the essence of European aristocratic culture—it's not just being nice, it's following an entire invisible rulebook of 'proper' behavior. The fact that it's borrowed from French tells you how much influence French court culture had on European manners across centuries.
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