niceté

Nicété is a French noun meaning refinement or a delicate quality. It can denote a small, pleasant gesture, a refined detail, or a polite consideration. The term is commonly used in literary or formal contexts to describe subtleties of taste, language, or etiquette.

Etymology: The word derives from Old French niceté, formed with the suffix -eté to indicate a state or quality. It is cognate with the English noun nicety, and both share a sense of refinement or delicacy.

Usage: In contemporary French, nicété is more often found in written or formal speech than in everyday conversation. It can refer to refined aspects of language or style, to courteous gestures, or to a quality of objects, decor, or art that is tasteful and delicate.

English cognate and meaning: In English, nicety denotes a fine detail or refinement and, in the plural niceties, the polite formalities of social interaction. The sense is similar but usage patterns and common collocations differ between the two languages.