Not exactly recent, but still acceptable (6)

I believe the answer is:

decent

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'acceptable' is the definition.
(I know that acceptable can be written as decent)

'not exactly recent but still' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'not' could be 'nt' (synonyms) and 'nt' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for decent that I've seen before include "Proper and suitable" , "Obliging or modest" , "Respectable; generous" , "Kind, obliging or generous" , "Kind of respectable" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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