Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Decent \De"cent\, a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to
be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament,
Gr. ? to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. d?c to grant, to
give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. d['e]cent.
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.