DECENT

decent

(adjective) conforming to conventions of sexual behavior; “speech in this circle, if not always decent, never became lewd”- George Santayana

satisfactory, acceptable, decent

(adjective) meeting requirements; “the step makes a satisfactory seat”; “I would kill for a decent cup of coffee”; “a decent wage”

decent

(adjective) observing conventional sexual mores in speech or behavior or dress; “though one of her shoulder straps had slipped down, she was perfectly decent by current standards”

decent

(adjective) sufficiently clothed to see visitors or appear in public; “are you decent?”

fitting, decent

(adjective) in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion; “a decent burial”; “We have come to dedicate a portion of that field...It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this”

decent, nice

(adjective) socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous; “from a decent family”; “a nice girl”

properly, decently, decent, right

(adverb) in the right manner; correctly; suitably; “please do your job properly!”; “can’t you carry me decent?”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

decent (comparative more decent, superlative most decent)

(obsolete) Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.

(of a person) Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.

(informal) Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.

Fair; good enough; okay.

Significant; substantial.

(obsolete) Comely; shapely; well-formed.

Synonyms

• (conforming suitably to moral standards): good, moral

• (good enough): adequate, satisfactory

Antonyms

• (conforming suitably to moral standards): bad, immoral

• (sufficiently clothed): indecent, underdressed

• (good enough): inadequate, poor, unsatisfactory

Anagrams

• cedent

Source: Wiktionary


De"cent, a. Etym: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deig.]

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. A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke.

– De"cent*ly, adv.

– De"cent*ness, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

24 December 2024

INTUITIVELY

(adverb) in an intuitive manner; “inventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobiles”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

coffee icon