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decency (n.)
1560s, "appropriateness, state or quality of being fit or suitable," from Latin decentia "comeliness, decency," from decentem "becoming, fitting," present participle of decere "to be fitting or suitable," from PIE *deke-, from root *dek- "to take, accept." Meaning "modesty, freedom from ribaldry or obscenity" (i.e. "appropriateness to standards of society") is from 1630s.
updated on July 02, 2018
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Dictionary entries near decency
deceive
decelerate
deceleration
December
decemvir
decency
decennial
decennoval
decent
decentralization
decentralize