6 results for: Discreet

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·creet

Audio Help [di-skreet] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.

2.	showing prudence and circumspection; decorous: a discreet silence.

3.	modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious: a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace.

[Origin: 1325–75; ME discret < AF, OF < ML discrétus, L: separated (ptp. of discernere; see discern), equiv. to dis- dis-¹ + cré- separate, distinguish (var. s. of cernere) + -tus ptp. suffix

]

—Related forms

dis·creet·ly, adverb

dis·creet·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. See careful.

—Antonyms 1. indiscreet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Discreet

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

dis·creet Audio Help (dĭ-skrēt') Pronunciation Key
adj.

Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.
Free from ostentation or pretension; modest.

[Middle English, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin, past participle of discernere, to separate, discern; see discern.]

dis·creet'ly adv., dis·creet'ness n.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
discreet

1340, from O.Fr. discret, from L. discretus "separated, distinct," in M.L. "discerning, careful," from pp. of discernere "distinguish" (see discern). Spellings discrete and nativized discreet co-existed until after c.1600, when discreet became the common word for "careful, prudent," and discrete was maintained in philosophy, medicine, music and other disciplines that remembered L. and tried to stick close to it.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

discreet
adjective
1.	marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; "his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace" [ant: indiscreet]
2.	unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic; "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence" [syn: discerning]
3.	heedful of potential consequences; "circumspect actions"; "physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use"; "a discreet investor" [syn: circumspect]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
discreet [diˈskriːt] adjective

wise, cautious and not saying anything which might cause trouble
Example: My secretary won't let the secret out — she's very discreet.

Arabic:	حَكيم، رَزين، حَذِر
Chinese (Simplified):	谨慎的
Chinese (Traditional):	謹慎的
Czech:	diskrétní, rozvážný, mlčenlivý
Danish:	diskret
Dutch:	kies
Estonian:	taktitundeline
Finnish:	tahdikas
French:	sage
German:	verschwiegen
Greek:	διακριτικός
Hungarian:	diszkrét
Icelandic:	þagmælskur
Indonesian:	bijaksana, hati-hati
Italian:	discreto

Japanese:	思慮のある
Korean:	사려 깊은, 신중한
Latvian:	diskrēts; piesardzīgs; apdomīgs
Lithuanian:	taktiškas, diskretiškas
Norwegian:	diskré, taktfull, fintfølende
Polish:	dyskretny
Portuguese (Brazil):	discreto
Portuguese (Portugal):	discreto
Romanian:	discret
Russian:	благоразумный
Slovak:	rozvážny
Slovenian:	previden, molčeč
Spanish:	discreto
Swedish:	diskret
Turkish:	temkinli, ölçülü, ağzı sıkı

See also: discretion

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