Decent

adj, noun, slang

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
  2. 2
    Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
  3. 3
    Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen. informal

    "Are you decent? May I come in?"

  4. 4
    Fair; acceptable; okay.

    "He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it."

  5. 5
    Significant; substantial.

    "There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them."

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  1. 6
    Conforming to perceived standards of good taste.

    "I had a cup of tea - the last decent cup of tea for many days; and in a room that most soothingly looked just as you would expect a lady’s drawing-room to look, we had a long quiet chat by the fireside."

  2. 7
    Comely; shapely; well-formed. obsolete

    "And ſable ſtole of Cipres Lawn, Over thy decent ſhoulders drawn."

Adjective
  1. 1
    conforming to conventions of sexual behavior wordnet
  2. 2
    meeting requirements wordnet
  3. 3
    observing conventional sexual mores in speech or behavior or dress wordnet
  4. 4
    sufficiently clothed to see visitors or appear in public wordnet
  5. 5
    in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion wordnet
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  1. 6
    socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous wordnet
Adverb
  1. 1
    in the right manner; correctly; suitably wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Misspelling of descent. alt-of, misspelling

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French décent, or its source, Latin decēns, present participle of decet (“it is fitting or suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“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.

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