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Synonyms
decent - 4 dictionary results
de⋅cent
[dee-suh
nt]
–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 decēns) fitting (prp. of decēre to be fitting; see -ent ), akin to decus honor
1485–95; < L decent- (s. of decēns) fitting (prp. of decēre 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.
1. seemly, proper, decorous. 5. apt, fit, becoming.
Antonyms:
1. unseemly. 5. inappropriate.
1. unseemly. 5. inappropriate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To decent
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : decent
Spanish:
decente,
German:
annehmbar,
Japanese:
かなりの
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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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