discreet
[ dih-skreet ]
/ dɪˈskrit /
adjective
judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.
showing prudence and circumspection; decorous: a discreet silence.
modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious: a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace.
Origin of discreet
synonym study for discreet
1. See
careful.
historical usage of discreet
Discreet, meaning “judicious, prudent, modest,” comes partly from Middle French
discret “prudent, discerning,” used in Anglo-French in the sense “wise person.” The Latin source was
discrētus, past participle of the verb
discernere “to separate, distinguish, mark off, show differences between.” In Late Latin
discrētus also acquired the sense “prudent, wise,” possibly arising from association with the noun
discrētiō, which shows a similar semantic development: physical separation to discernment to capacity to discern.
Discrete, “apart or detached from others; separate; distinct,” was originally a spelling doublet of discreet, sharing meanings and both deriving from the same Latin source. The spelling discrete is closer in form to Latin discrētus and is probably an attempt to differentiate discreet from discrete.
The Middle English Dictionary has two senses at the headword discrēt(e): the sense “wise, morally discerning, prudent, circumspect” has 29 citations; the sense “separate, distinct” has four (in angelology, astronomy, and mathematics).
It wasn’t until the late 16th century that discrete became restricted to its present meanings, leaving the spelling discreet to predominate in its own current uses.
Discrete, “apart or detached from others; separate; distinct,” was originally a spelling doublet of discreet, sharing meanings and both deriving from the same Latin source. The spelling discrete is closer in form to Latin discrētus and is probably an attempt to differentiate discreet from discrete.
The Middle English Dictionary has two senses at the headword discrēt(e): the sense “wise, morally discerning, prudent, circumspect” has 29 citations; the sense “separate, distinct” has four (in angelology, astronomy, and mathematics).
It wasn’t until the late 16th century that discrete became restricted to its present meanings, leaving the spelling discreet to predominate in its own current uses.
OTHER WORDS FROM discreet
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH discreet
discreet discreteWords nearby discreet
Example sentences from the Web for discreet
British Dictionary definitions for discreet
discreet
/ (dɪˈskriːt) /
adjective
careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful
unobtrusive
Derived forms of discreet
discreetly, adverb discreetness, nounWord Origin for discreet
C14: from Old French
discret, from Medieval Latin
discrētus, from Latin
discernere to
discern
undefined discreet
Avoid confusion with
discrete