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reticence

 - 3 dictionary results

ret⋅i⋅cent

  [ret-uh-suhnt]
Use reticence in a Sentence
–adjective
1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
2. reluctant or restrained.
Origin:
1825–35; < L reticent- (s. of reticēns), prp. of reticēre to be silent, equiv. to re- re- + -tic-, comb. form of tacēre to be silent (cf. tacit ) + -ent- -ent

Related forms:
ret⋅i⋅cence, ret⋅i⋅cen⋅cy, noun
ret⋅i⋅cent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. taciturn, quiet, uncommunicative.

Antonyms:
1. talkative, voluble.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To reticence
ret·i·cence   (rět'ĭ-səns)   
n.  

  1. The state or quality of being reticent; reserve.

  2. The state or quality of being reluctant; unwillingness.

  3. An instance of being reticent.

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

reticence 
1603, from Fr. réticence, from L. reticentia "silence," from reticere "keep silent," from re-, intensive prefix, + tacere "be silent" (see tact). "Not in common use until after 1830" [OED]. Adjective form reticent is from 1834.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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