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discreet

 - 3 dictionary results

dis⋅creet

[di-skreet]
–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 discrētus, L: separated (ptp. of discernere; see discern ), equiv. to dis- dis- 1 + crē- separate, distinguish (var. s. of cernere) + -tus ptp. suffix


dis⋅creet⋅ly, adverb
dis⋅creet⋅ness, noun


1. See careful.


1. indiscreet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dis·creet   (dĭ-skrēt')   
adj.  
  1. Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.

  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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