Lori's Lexicon: Just a little F.Y.I. for your information

In my cubicle at work, I have quite the plethora of office enhancement. Imagine my fear, when the item "Office Decorum" appeared on the agenda of our beginning of the year staff meeting. Due to the look of the word and its' resemblance to the word decoration, I presupposed that this word meant the decorations in the office. Breaking into a cold sweat, I anticipated having to take down my enhancers. Much to my relief (I suppose), the word decorum, in fact means:

de-co-rum (noun)

1. dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

2. the quality or state of being decorous; orderliness; regularity

3. usually, decorums, an observance or requirement of polite society

(dictionary.com)

In attempts to find respite from ticked off teachers and cussing counselors, our office can occasionally become loud or boisterous. Our boss was suggesting that we keep this to a minimum if possible. My coworkers and I did wonder who exactly made up the standards of decorum and if one person's standards of decorum might vary from another's. It might be possible for a much more relaxed style of decorum in various people's cubicles. Regardless, I will no longer be confused by the devious word decorum.