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decent definition

de·cent (dē′sənt)

adjective

  1. proper and fitting a decent burial
  2. not immodest; not obscene; chaste decent language
  3. conforming to approved social standards; respectable decent apparel
  4. reasonably good; adequate decent wages
  5. fair and kind decent treatment
  6. Informal adequately clothed for propriety

Etymology: MFr décent < L decens (gen decentis), prp. of decere, to befit < IE base *de-, to receive, greet, be suitable, teach > Sans dkšati, (he) is helpful, L docere, to teach, Gr dokein, to think, seem

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

decent Synonyms

decent

modif.

  1. In accordance with common standards

    seemly, suitable, fitting; see conventional 2, fit 1.

  2. In accordance with the moral code

    nice, decorous, honorable, proper, seemly, chaste, modest, continent, pure, ethical, fair, generous, kind, obliging, accommodating, gracious, reserved, free from obscenity, spotless, respectable, prudent, comme il faut (French), mannerly, virtuous, delicate, stainless, clean, trustworthy, upright, worthy, untarnished, unblemished, straight; see also honest 1, moral 1.

  3. Moderately good

    satisfactory, adequate, average; see common 1, fair 2. See syn. study at chaste.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

decent Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: The average cost to make these homes decent is £ 16,000 each, or some £ 43 billion in total.

Infinitive complement

  • live: I couldn't believe it when I got somewhere decent to live.

Modifies a noun

  • wage: You can visit the house where he lived in Doughty Street once he'd started to earn a decent wage.

Modifying Another Word

  • minimally: In particular, how are we to understand the notion of a ' minimally decent life ' ?

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Normally I would be the first to do that, but from what I saw he seemed pretty decent to me.
decent usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

decent quotes

The United States is the best and fairest and most decent nation on the face of the earth.

-Bush, George Herbert Walker

And the wind shall say: 'Here were decent godless people: Their only monument the asphalt road And a thousand lost golf balls.'

-Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

All decent people live beyond their incomes nowadays, and those who aren't respectable live beyond other peoples'. A few gifted individuals manage to do both.

-Saki pseudonym of  Hector Hugh Munro

decent quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"decent." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/decent>

APA Style

decent. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/decent

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