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decent

5 dictionary results for: Decent

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·cent

[dee-suh

nt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	conforming to the recognized standard of propriety, good taste, modesty, etc., as in behavior or speech.

2.	respectable; worthy: a decent family.

3.	adequate; fair; passable: a decent wage.

4.	kind; obliging; generous: It was very decent of him to lend me his watch.

5.	suitable; appropriate: She did not have a decent coat for the cold winter.

6.	of fairly attractive appearance: a decent face.

7.	Informal. wearing enough clothing to appear in public.

8.	Slang. great; wonderful.

[Origin: 1485–95; < L decent- (s. of decéns) fitting (prp. of decére to be fitting; see -ent), akin to decus honor

]

—Related forms

de·cent·ly, adverb

de·cent·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. seemly, proper, decorous. 5. apt, fit, becoming.

—Antonyms 1. unseemly. 5. inappropriate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·cent (dē'sənt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Characterized by conformity to recognized standards of propriety or morality.
Free from indelicacy; modest.
Meeting accepted standards; adequate: a decent salary.
1. Morally upright; respectable.
2. Kind or obliging: very decent of them to lend you money.
Informal Properly or modestly dressed.

[Latin decēns, decent-, present participle of decēre, to be fitting; see dek- in Indo-European roots.]

de'cent·ly adv., de'cent·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
decent

1539, "proper to one's station or rank," also "tasteful," from M.Fr. decent, from L. decentem (nom. decens, gen. decentis), prp. of decere "to be fitting or suitable," from PIE *deke-, from base *dek- "to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable" (cf. Gk. dokein "to appear, seem, think," dekhesthai "to accept;" Skt. dacasyati "shows honor, is gracious," dacati "makes offerings, bestows"). Meaning "kind, pleasant" is from 1902. Decency is 1567 in sense of "appropriateness," 1639 in sense of "modesty." Are you decent? (1949) was originally backstage theater jargon for "are you dressed."

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

decent
adjective
1.	socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous; "from a decent family"; "a nice girl"
2.	according with custom or propriety; "her becoming modesty"; "comely behavior"; "it is not comme il faut for a gentleman to be constantly asking for money"; "a decent burial"; "seemly behavior" [syn: becoming]
3.	conforming to conventions of sexual behavior; "speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana [ant: indecent]
4.	sufficient for the purpose; "an adequate income"; "the food was adequate"; "a decent wage"; "enough food"; "food enough" [syn: adequate]
5.	decently clothed; "are you decent?"
6.	observing conventional sexual mores in speech or behavior or dress; "a modest neckline in her dress"; "though one of her shoulder straps had slipped down, she was perfectly decent by current standards"
adverb
1.	in the right manner; "please do your job properly!"; "can't you carry me decent?" [syn: properly] [ant: improperly]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Decent

De"cent\, a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. ? to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d?c to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. d['e]cent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deig?.]

1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. --Shak.

Before his decent steps. --Milton.

2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.

3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic]

A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy decent shoulders drawn. --Milton.

By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. --Pope.

4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person.

A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. --Burke. -- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n.

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