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Webster 1913 Edition

decent

de′cent

(dē′sent)
,
Adj.
[L.
decens
,
decentis
, p. pr. of
decere
to be fitting or becoming; akin to
decus
glory, honor, ornament, Gr.
δοκεῖν
to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr.
dāç
to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E.
attire
,
tire
: cf. F.
décent
. Cf.
Decorate
,
Decorum
,
Deign
.]
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.
–
De′cent-ly
,
adv.
–
De′cent-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Decent

DE'CENT

,
Adj.
[L. decens; Fr. decent.]

Definition 2024

decent

decent

See also: décent

English

Adjective

decent ‎(comparative more decent, superlative most decent)

  1. (obsolete) Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
  2. (of a person) Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
  3. (informal) Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.
    Are you decent? May I come in?‎
  4. Fair; good enough; okay.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess:
      A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.
    He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it.‎
  5. Significant; substantial.
    There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them.‎
  6. (obsolete) Comely; shapely; well-formed.
    • A sable stole of cyprus lawn / Over thy decent shoulders drawn — Milton.

Antonyms

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Translations

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Etymology

From Middle French décent, or its source, Latin decēns, present participle of decet ‎(“it is fitting or suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *dek- ‎(“to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable”) (compare Ancient Greek δοκέω ‎(dokéō, “I appear, seem, think”), δέχομαι ‎(dékhomai, “I accept”); Sanskrit दशस्यति ‎(daśasyáti, “shows honor, is gracious”), दाशति ‎(dāśati, “makes offerings, bestows”)). Meaning ‘kind, pleasant’ is from 1902.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈdiːsənt/

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