I.v. impers. [Sanscr. dacas, fame; Gr. δοκέω, to seem, think; Lat. decus, dignus]. It is seemly, comely, becoming,; it beseems, behooves, is fitting, suitable, proper (for syn. v. debeo init.): “decere quasi aptum esse consentaneumque tempori et personae,” Cic. Or. 22, 74; cf. also nunc quid aptum sit, hoc est, quid maxime deceat in oratione videamus, id. de Or. 3, 55, 210 (very freq. and class.; not in Caes.).—Constr., with nom. or inf. of the thing, and with acc.; less freq. with dat. of the pers.; sometimes absol.
a. With nom. rei
(α).
and acc. pers.: Ph. Quin me aspice et contempla, ut haec (sc. vestis) me decet. Sc. Virtute formae id evenit, te ut deceat, quicquid habeas, Plaut. Most. 1, 3, 16 sq.; cf.: “quem decet muliebris ornatus, quem incessus psaltriae, Cic. Clod. fragm. 5, p. 105 ed. Beier: te toga picta decet,” Prop. 4, 4, 53 al.; Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 30; Quint. 8, 5, 28; “and nec habitus triumphalis feminas deceat,” id. 11, 1, 3; cf.: “omnis Aristippum color decuit,” Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 23: “intonsus crinis deum,” Tib. 1, 4, 38; cf.: “neglecta decet multas coma,” Ov. A. A. 3, 153; id. F. 2, 106 et saep.: “id maxime quemque decet, quod est cujusque maxime suum,” Cic. Off. 1, 31, 113: “quod omnes et semper et ubique decet,” Quint. 11, 1, 14: “non si quid Pholoen satis, Et te, Chlori, decet,” Hor. Od. 3, 15, 8 et saep.: “qui flexus deceat miserationem,” Quint. 1, 11, 12: “civitatem quis deceat status,” Hor. Od. 3, 29, 25 et saep.—In plur.: “quem tenues decuere togae nitidique capilli,” Hor. Ep. 1, 14, 32: “te non citharae decent,” id. Od. 3, 15, 14: “alba decent Cererem: vestes Cerealibus albas Sumite,” Ov. F. 4, 619; id. M. 1, 457 et saep.: “nec velle experiri, quam se aliena deceant,” Cic. Off. 1, 31, 113; Quint. 6, 1, 25: “illa quoque diversa bonum virum decent,” id. 11, 1, 42 et saep.: “duo verba uni apposita ne versum quidem decuerint,” id. 8, 6, 43.—
(β).
Without acc. pers.: “nihil est difficilius quam quid deceat videre,” Cic. Or. 21, 70; cf.: “quid deceat et quid aptum sit personis,” id. Off. 1, 34 fin.: “casus singularis magis decuit,” Quint. 8, 3, 20; id. 11, 3, 161 et saep.: “idem fere in omni genere causarum et proderit et decebit,” id. 11, 1, 14; cf. id. 9, 4, 21.—In plur.: “ubi lepos, joci, risus, vinum, ebrietas decent,” Plaut. Ps. prol. 20: “cum magna pars est exhausta orationis, pene omnia decent,” Quint. 11, 3, 147; 150; id. 11, 1, 48 et saep. —
(γ).
With dat.: “istuc facinus nostro generi non decet,” Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 188: certa est ratio quae deceat philosopho, Apul. Flor. 3, p. 355, 13; Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 34; cf. infra. —
b. With inf.
(α).
and acc. pers.: “non te mihi irasci decet,” Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 24: “hanc maculam nos decet effugere,” Ter. Ad. 5, 8, 31: “oratorem irasci minime decet,” Cic. Tusc. 4, 25; Quint. 12, 6, 3; Ov. M. 3, 265; so freq. with inf. pass.: “specimen naturae capi debet ex optima quaque natura,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 14, 32: “mortalin' decuit violari vulnere divum?” Verg. A. 12, 797; Ter. And. prol. 16. —
(β).
Without acc.: “injusta ab justis impetrare non decet,” Plaut. Am. prol. 35: “exemplis grandioribus decuit uti,” Cic. Div. 1, 20; Ov. M. 8, 27: “nunc decet caput impedire myrto: nunc et in umbrosis Fauno decet immolare lucis,” Hor. Od. 1, 4, 9 sq.; id. Ep. 1, 17, 2; Pers. 3, 27.—
(γ).
With dat.: “decet tantae majestati eas servare leges, quibus, etc.,” Dig. 32, 1, 23: “ita uti liberali esse ingenio decet,” Ter. Hec. 1, 2, 89: “prima certe pensari decet populo utrum, etc.,” Liv. 34, 58, 8.
c. Absol.
(α).
with acc. pers.: “ita ut vos decet,” Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 40; cf.: “facis, ut te decet,” Ter. Andr. 2, 5, 10; id. Heaut. 5, 5, 10: “ita uti fortes decet milites,” id. Eun. 4, 7, 44; cf.: id. Andr. 2, 6, 14: “illum decet,” Quint. 9, 4, 15 et saep.—
(β).
Without case: “eia haud sic decet,” Ter. Eun. 5, 9, 35; cf. id. Hec. 2, 2, 10: “fecisti ut decuerat,” id. ib. 4, 4, 66: “minus severe quam decuit,” Cic. Phil. 6, 1: “velata parte oris, quia sic decebat,” it was becoming, Tac. A. 13, 45: “nihil aliter ac deceat,” id. Att. 6, 3, 8: perge; “decet,” Verg. A. 12, 153 et saep.—
(γ).
With dat.: “ita nobis decet,” Ter. Ad. 5, 8, 5; id. Heaut. 5, 2, 12: “locum editiorem quam victoribus decebat,” Sall. H. 1, 98 (Serv. Verg. A. 8, 127.)— Hence, dĕcens , entis, P. a. (freq. in Hor., Ov., and post-Aug. prose, esp. Quint.; not in Verg.; in Cic. once adverbially, and cf. decentia), seemly, becoming, decent, proper, fit: “amictus,” Ov. Pont. 2, 5, 52; cf.: “decentior amictus,” Quint. 11, 3, 156; “and sinus (togae) decentissimus,” id. 11, 3, 140: “ornatus,” id. 2, 15, 21: “motus,” Hor. Od. 4, 13, 17; Quint. 1, 10, 26; cf.: “corporis decens et accommodatus orationi motus,” id. 11, 3, 29; “and allevatio atque contractio humerorum,” id. 11, 3, 83: “decentissimum sponsalium genus,” Sen. Ben. 1, 9 et saep.: “quid verum atque decens,” Hor. Ep. 1, 1, 11: “decentius erit servare pudorem,” Quint. 11, 1, 78; cf. 8, 6, 6.—
2. Esp. of corporeal fitness and symmetry, regularly, symmetrically, handsomely shaped; well-formed; noble: “forma,” Ov. Am. 3, 1, 9; cf.: “habitus decentior quam sublimior,” Tac. Agr. 44: “facies,” Ov. Tr. 3, 7, 33: “malae,” Hor. Od. 3, 27, 53: “Venus,” id. ib. 1, 18, 6; cf.: “Cynthia,” Prop. 4, 8, 52 (5, 8, 52 M.): “Gratiae,” Hor. Od. 1, 4, 6: “(Paullus) et nobilis et decens,” id. ib. 4, 1, 13: pulcher et decens toto corpore, Suct. Dom. 18; cf. Juv. 6, 161: “sumptis decentior armis Minerva,” Ov. H. 5, 35; Quint. 8, 3, 10 et saep.—Adv.: decenter (acc. to no. 1), becomingly, decently, properly, fitly: “fictis nominibus decenter uti,” Plin. Ep. 6, 21, 5; cf.: “fieri,” Quint. 11, 1, 79: “singula quaeque locum teneant sortita decenter,” Hor. A. P. 92; cf.: “maesta,” Ov. Am. 2, 5, 44.—Comp.: Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 216; Quint. 9, 1, 21 al.—Sup., a false reading for diligentissime, Cic. Caes. 26, 74.
