Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

discreet

 - 3 dictionary results
Meet LA Area Singles
Meet Singles That Share Your Active Social Life, Starting This Weekend!
www.TableForSix.com
Sexy Local Women
Browse Local Photos and Profiles. 100% Free. No Credit Card Req.
www.Mate1.com

dis⋅creet

  [di-skreet]
Use discreet in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
dis⋅creet⋅ly, adverb
dis⋅creet⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. See careful.

Antonyms:
1. indiscreet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To discreet
Meet LA Area Singles
Meet Singles That Share Your Active Social Life, Starting This Weekend!
www.TableForSix.com
Sexy Local Women
Browse Local Photos and Profiles. 100% Free. No Credit Card Req.
www.Mate1.com
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.
Cite This Source
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
Cite This Source
Search another word or see discreet on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way