What does decent mean?
Definitions for decent
ˈdi səntde·cent
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word decent.
Princeton's WordNet
decent, nice(adj)
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
"from a decent family"; "a nice girl"
becoming, comely, comme il faut, decent, decorous, seemly(adj)
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"
decent(adj)
conforming to conventions of sexual behavior
"speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana
adequate, decent, enough(adj)
sufficient for the purpose
"an adequate income"; "the food was adequate"; "a decent wage"; "enough food"; "food enough"
decent(adj)
decently clothed
"are you decent?"
decent(adverb)
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"
properly, decently, decent, in good order, right, the right way(adverb)
in the right manner
"please do your job properly!"; "can't you carry me decent?"
Wiktionary
decent(Adjective)
Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
decent(Adjective)
Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
decent(Adjective)
Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.
Are you decent? May I come in?
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
decent(Adjective)
Fair; good enough; okay.
He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it.
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
decent(Adjective)
Significant; substantial.
There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them.
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
decent(Adjective)
Comely; shapely; well-formed.
A sable stole of cyprus lawn / Over thy decent shoulders drawn uE000163484uE001 Milton.
Etymology: From décent, or its source, decens, present participle of decet, from deke-, from base (compare Ancient Greek δοκεῖν, δέχεσθαι; Sanskrit , ). Meaning kind, pleasant is from 1902.
Webster Dictionary
Decent(adj)
suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language
Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]
Decent(adj)
free from immodesty or obscenity; modest
Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]
Decent(adj)
comely; shapely; well-formed
Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]
Decent(adj)
moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person
Etymology: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. dcent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Decent
dē′sent, adj. becoming: seemly: proper: modest: moderate: tolerable.—n. Dē′cency, becomingness: modesty.—adv. Dē′cently. [L. decens, decentis, pr.p. of decēre, to be becoming.]
British National Corpus
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2304
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Adjectives Frequency: #643
Anagrams for decent »
cedent
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of decent in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of decent in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of decent in a Sentence
In other countries, art and literature are left to a lot of shabby bums living in attics and feeding on booze and spaghetti, but in America the successful writer or picture-painter is indistinguishable from any other decent businessman.
McDonald's is a global player, and people all over the world should know it is an unfair player that should face global pressure to pay its taxes and decent wages.
America is the greatest, freest and most decent society in existence. It is an oasis of goodness in a desert of cynicism and barbarism. This country, once an experiment unique in the world, is now the last best hope for the world.
We are at another level where we need draw distinctions and differences with other candidates, a lot of people are drawn to Pete Buttigieg because Pete Buttigieg is civil and decent and kind. That's who Pete Buttigieg is. But elections are about choices and they are about differences and they are about distinctions.
In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called' Go Set a Watchman,' it features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel( what became' To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
Translations for decent
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- لائقArabic
- значителен, благоприличен, приличенBulgarian
- slušnýCzech
- anständigGerman
- decenteSpanish
- kelpo, kunnollinen, pukeissa, käypä, rehellinen, huomattava, säädyllinen, kunnon, ihan hyväFinnish
- décent, intègre, substantielFrench
- cothromach, iomchaidhScottish Gaelic
- הגוןHebrew
- सभ्यHindi
- presentabile, perbeneItalian
- შესაფერისი, წესიერი, ზრდილიGeorgian
- 어지간한Korean
- significant, substantieel, toonbaar, redelijk, integerDutch
- niezły, przyzwoityPolish
- decentePortuguese
- порядочный, неплохой, хороший, одетый, благопристойный, приличныйRussian
- spodobenSlovene
- anständig, hyfsadSwedish
- கண்ணியமானTamil
- adam gibi, terbiyeli, yeterli, saygın, makul, edepliTurkish
- ГіднийUkrainian
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"decent." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 25 Feb. 2021. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/decent>.