Definitions for decent
ˈdi səntde·cent

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. decent, nice(adj)

   socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

   "from a decent family"; "a nice girl"

2. 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"

3. decent(adj)

   conforming to conventions of sexual behavior

   "speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd"- George Santayana

4. adequate, decent, enough(adj)

   sufficient for the purpose

   "an adequate income"; "the food was adequate"; "a decent wage"; "enough food"; "food enough"

5. decent(adj)

   decently clothed

   "are you decent?"

6. 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"

7. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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.]

2. 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.]

3. 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.]

4. 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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. 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

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2304

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'decent' in Adjectives Frequency: #643

Anagrams for decent »

1. cedent

How to pronounce decent?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say decent in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of decent in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of decent in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of decent in a Sentence

1. Robbie Kass:

   Besides being an accomplished actor, was also a true gentleman and a scholar, as well as being an incredibly kind and decent man. He will be sorely missed, my friend Ed Herrmann was the kindest, classiest, most talented man. It was an honor and a joy to know him, a devastating blow to lose him.

2. Miep Gies:

   I am not a hero. I just did what any decent person would have done.

3. Tom Steyer:

   Every candidate here is more decent and coherent and patriotic than that criminal in the White House.

4. Mini Mike Bloomberg:

   Mini Mike Bloomberg acknowledged earlier in the day Tuesday that the possibility of a contested convention at the Democratic convention in July is Mini Mike Bloomberg only pathway to becoming the nominee, admitting, I dont think I can win any other way. Mini Mike Bloomberg told reporters on Tuesday morning that Mini Mike Bloomberg had no expectations on how hed perform, despite record investments in ads and staff from his own bank account. CLICK HERE FOR FULL SUPER TUESDAY RESULTS I have no expectations for today. We will have a decent number of delegates, weve been working at this for 10 weeks.

5. Roy Austin:

   I'll take anything that starts moving it in the right direction, i'll take half decent( data) at this point, because what Heather Heyer and Khalid Jabara have right now is really bad.

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