different between decent vs exemplary

English

Etymology

From Middle French décent, or its source, Latin dec?ns, present participle of decet (“it is fitting or suitable”), from Proto-Indo-European *de?- (“to take, accept, to receive, greet, be suitable”) (compare Ancient Greek ????? (doké?, “I appear, seem, think”), ??????? (dékhomai, “I accept”); Sanskrit ??????? (da?asyáti, “shows honor, is gracious”), ????? (d??ati, “makes offerings, bestows”)). Meaning ‘kind, pleasant’ is from 1902.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?di?s?nt/

Adjective

decent (comparative more decent, superlative most decent)

1. (obsolete) Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances.
2. (of a person) Having a suitable conformity to basic moral standards; showing integrity, fairness, or other characteristics associated with moral uprightness.
3. (informal) Sufficiently clothed or dressed to be seen.

4. Fair; good enough; okay.
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 35:

     And ‘blubbing’... Blubbing went out with ‘decent’ and ‘ripping’. Mind you, not a bad new language to start up. Nineteen-twenties schoolboy slang could be due for a revival.

5. Significant; substantial.

6. Conforming to percievied standards of good taste.
7. (obsolete) Comely; shapely; well-formed.

Synonyms

• (conforming suitably to moral standards): good, moral
• (good enough): adequate, satisfactory

Antonyms

• (conforming suitably to moral standards): bad, immoral
• (sufficiently clothed): indecent, underdressed
• (good enough): inadequate, poor, unsatisfactory

Related terms

• decency
• decently

Translations

Anagrams

• cedent

Romanian

Etymology

From French décent, from Latin decens.

Adjective

decent m or n (feminine singular decent?, masculine plural decen?i, feminine and neuter plural decente)

1. decent

Declension

English

Etymology

From Middle French exemplaire (“exemplary; a copy, facsimile; an example; a sample, specimen”), from Latin exempl?ris (“exemplary; a copy, facsimile”), from exemplum (“an example; a sample; a copy or transcript”). Doublet of exemplar.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???z?mpl??i/, /?k-/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???z?mpl??i/, /??-/
• Hyphenation: ex?em?pla?ry

Adjective

exemplary (comparative more exemplary, superlative most exemplary)

1. Deserving honour, respect and admiration.
2. Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated; ideal, perfect.
3. Serving as a warning; monitory.
4. Providing an example or illustration.

Synonyms

• (all senses): exemplar (adjective) (obsolete)
• (serving as a warning): admonitory

Translations

Noun

exemplary (plural exemplaries)

1. (obsolete) An example, or typical instance.
2. (obsolete) A copy of a book or a piece of writing.

Synonyms

• exemplar
• paradigm

Related terms