Meaning

adjective socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

adverb in the right manner

adjective according with custom or propriety

originBorrowed 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,…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0