- Decently
- decent de"cent (d[=e]"sent), a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr.
of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory,
honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think;
cf. Skr. d[=a][,c] to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E.
attire, tire: cf. F. d['e]cent. Cf. {Decorate}, {Decorum},
{Deign}.]
1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming;
fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent
language. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Before his decent steps. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest. [1913 Webster]
3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]
A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy decent shoulders drawn. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person. [1913 Webster]
A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. --Burke. -- {De"cent*ly}, adv. -- {De"cent*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.