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Decent vs Descent - What's the difference?

decent | descent |

As an adjective decent

is (obsolete) appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.

As a noun descent is

an instance of descending.

decent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
  • (of a person) Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
  • Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.
  • Fair; good enough; okay.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
  • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.}}
  • Significant; substantial.
  • (obsolete) Comely; shapely; well-formed.
  • * A sable stole of cyprus lawn / Over thy decent shoulders drawn — Milton.
  • Antonyms

    * indecent

    Anagrams

    *

    descent

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An instance of descending
  • We climbed the mountain with difficulty, but the descent was easier.
  • * 2012 , July 15. Richard Williams in Guardian Unlimited, Tour de France 2012: Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track
  • The next one surrendered his bike, only for that, too, to give him a second flat as he started the descent .
  • A way down.
  • We had difficulty in finding the correct descent .
  • A sloping passage or incline.
  • The descent into the cavern was wet and slippery.
  • Lineage or hereditary derivation
  • Our guide was of Welsh descent .
  • A drop to a lower status or condition.
  • After that, the holiday went into a steep descent .

    Usage notes

    * Sometimes confused with (decent).

    Antonyms

    * (going down) ascent

    Anagrams

    *