 | WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Decent
Pronunciation : De"cent
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [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. d?cent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deig.]
Definition : 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
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