n. Decency. [ Obs. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Decencies [ L. decentia, fr. decens: cf. F. décence. See Decent. ] 1. The quality or state of being decent, suitable, or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form in social intercourse, in actions, or in discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony; seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Observances of time, place, and of decency in general. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of decency is want of sense. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is proper or becoming. [ 1913 Webster ]

The external decencies of worship. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those thousand decencies, that daily flow
From all her words and actions. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. decem ten. ] (Chem.) One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H20, of the ethylene series. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Decennaries [ L. decennium a period of ten years; decem ten + annus a year. ] 1. A period of ten years. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (O. Eng. Law) A tithing consisting of ten neighboring families. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Decennary. ] Consisting of ten years; happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tenth year or tenth anniversary. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Decenniums L. Decennia [ L. ] A period of ten years. “The present decennium.” Hallam. “The last decennium of Chaucer's life.” A. W. Ward.

{ } a. [ L. decem ten + novem nine. ] Pertaining to the number nineteen; of nineteen years. [ R. ] Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. dokei^n to seem good, to seem, think; cf. Skr. dāç to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deign. ] 1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Before his decent steps. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A sable stole of cyprus lawn
Over thy decent shoulders drawn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person. [ 1913 Webster ]

A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke.

-- De"cent*ly, adv. -- De"cent*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as decentralization.
Syn. -- decentralization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. same as decentralize. Opposite of centralize and concentrate
Syn. -- decentralize, deconcentrate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The action of decentralizing, or the state of being decentralized. “The decentralization of France.” J. P. Peters. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. the spread of power away from the center to local branches or governments. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. to make less central; to prevent from centralizing; to cause to withdraw from the center or place of concentration; to divide and distribute (what has been united or concentrated); -- esp. said of authority, or the administration of public affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. prenom. causing a dispersion or movement away from the center; -- used especially of power or administrative functions. Opposite of centralizing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. duodecennis; duodecim twelve + annus year. ] Consisting of twelve years. [ R. ] Ash. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Indecency. [ Obs. ] “An indecence of barbarity.” Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Indecencies [ L. indecentia unseemliness: cf. F. indécence. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being indecent; lack of decency, modesty, or good manners; obscenity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is indecent; an indecent word or act; an offense against delicacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

They who, by speech or writing, present to the ear or the eye of modesty any of the indecencies I allude to, are pests of society. Beattie.

Syn. -- Indelicacy; indecorum; immodesty; impurity; obscenity. See Indecorum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indecens unseemly, unbecoming: cf. F. indécent. See In- not, and Decent. ] Not decent; unfit to be seen or heard; offensive to modesty and delicacy; as, indecent language. Cowper.

Syn. -- Unbecoming; indecorous; indelicate; unseemly; immodest; gross; shameful; impure; improper; obscene; filthy. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an indecent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Indecency. [ Obs. ] “Decency and undecency.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. undecim eleven (unus one + decem ten) + -ennary as in decennary. Cf. Undecennial. ] Occurring once in every period of eleven years; undecennial. [ 1913 Webster ]

An undecennary account laid before Parliament. E. Stiles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Undecennary, and cf. Decennial. ] Occurring or observed every eleventh year; belonging to, or continuing, a period of eleven years; undecennary; as, an undecennial festival. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Indecent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]