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decent - 4 dictionary results

de⋅cent

  [dee-suhnt]
Use decent in a Sentence
–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

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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To decent
de·cent   (dē'sənt)   
adj.  
  1. Characterized by conformity to recognized standards of propriety or morality.
  2. Free from indelicacy; modest.
  3. Meeting accepted standards; adequate: a decent salary.
    1. Morally upright; respectable.
    2. Kind or obliging: very decent of them to lend you money.
  5. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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
More Translations »

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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