Decus

Decus is a noun of Latin origin, derived from decus, decoris, meaning ornament, adornment, or splendor. In classical usage the term can denote physical decoration as well as the notion of honor, distinction, or virtue associated with a person, action, or object. In Latin literature and inscriptions, decus is often employed metaphorically to signify beauty, elegance, or noble quality, and it sometimes appears in mottoes and formal phrases to convey the idea of honor or prestige.

In scholarly and historical contexts, decus appears in discussions of classical rhetoric and poetry to describe the ornament or embellishment of language, as well as the implied moral or civic virtue that decorates a citizen, a city, or an achievement. The word also shows up in Latin inscriptions and inscriptions-inspired language where it stands for the admirable qualities or distinguished status of something or someone.

DECUS is an acronym for the Digital Equipment Computer Users' Society, a long-running international user-group network for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) hardware and software. Founded in the 1960s, DECUS organized regional chapters and regular conferences where members shared technical tips, software, and hardware know-how. The organization played a notable role in early and mid-to-late 20th-century computing culture by fostering peer-to-peer support and the dissemination of third-party applications and knowledge. After DEC was acquired by Compaq in 1998 and later by Hewlett-Packard, the DECUS name diminished in prominence, with many chapters dissolving or integrating into other user groups or archival efforts.

Beyond its Latin and computing senses, decus is rarely used in everyday modern English outside scholarly or historical contexts.