decent
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
decent¹
- /ˈdiː.sənt/ UK
- /ˈdi.sənt/ Canada, US
- /ˈdiː.sənt/ Australia
- [ˈdɪi.sənt] Australia
- [ˈdɪ̈i.sənt] Australia, general
- /ˈdiː.sənt/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -iːsənt
Where it comes from
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, “to appear, seem, think”), δέχομαι (dékhomai, “to accept”); Sanskrit दशस्यति (daśasyáti, “shows honor, is gracious”), दाशति (dāśati, “makes offerings, bestows”)). Meaning ‘kind, pleasant’ is from 1902.
adjective more decent · most decent
- Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
- Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness. Zohran Mamdani is a decent man for not accepting the pay rise he’s entitled to, as he wishes to see that money go to the poor of New York.
- Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen. Are you decent? May I come in?
- Fair; acceptable; okay. He's a decent saxophonist, but probably not good enough to make a career of it.
- Significant; substantial. There are a decent number of references out there, if you can find them.
- 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.
- Comely; shapely; well-formed. And ſable ſtole of Cipres Lawn, Over thy decent ſhoulders drawn.
decent²
noun
- Misspelling of descent.descent
