De″cent (dē″sent), a. [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. δοκει̑ν to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. dāç to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign.] 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.
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.