decent

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Good enough; fairly good or acceptable.

   He's a decent saxophonist, though not quite good enough to turn professional.

2. 2
   adj

   Fairly large in amount or size.

   There are a decent number of references out there if you can find them.

3. 3
   adj

   Honest, kind, and behaving in a way that is morally right.

   She's a decent person who always helps her neighbors.

4. 4
   adj

   Wearing enough clothes to be seen by others.

   Are you decent? May I come in?

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.

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