Definitions for decent
ˈdi səntde·cent

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

1. decent, niceadjective

   socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

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

2. becoming, comely, comme il faut, decent, decorous, seemlyadjective

   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. decentadjective

   conforming to conventions of sexual behavior

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

4. adequate, decent, enoughadjective

   sufficient for the purpose

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

5. decentadjective

   decently clothed

   "are you decent?"

6. decentadverb

   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 wayadverb

   in the right manner

   "please do your job properly!"; "can't you carry me decent?"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. decentadjective

   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. decentadjective

   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. decentadjective

   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. decentadjective

   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. decentadjective

   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. decentadjective

   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. Decentadjective

   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. Decentadjective

   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. Decentadjective

   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. Decentadjective

   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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Oliver Wriedt:

   The banks went into the volatility of August and September with a decent amount of exposure. They have had fairly awful third quarters. The outlook for the fourth quarter does not look much better, M&A looks great but the fixed income division has had a very hard time, we expect them to be continue to be in de-risking mode from here to year end.

2. Philip Marey:

   We know the employment growth has been decent for a couple of months now, so if we get close to the consensus, that just confirms what we already know, so the Fed will want to see 'underemployment' rate fall further and they want the hourly earnings growth to rebound to 3-4 percent. That is what is becoming increasingly important.

3. Donald Trump:

   This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations, this is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.

4. Bin Salman:

   The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men, this, however, does not particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear.

5. Hubert Humphrey:

   People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can't pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as exotic but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.

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