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reticent - 3 dictionary results

ret⋅i⋅cent

  [ret-uh-suhnt]
Use reticent 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 reticent
ret·i·cent   (rět'ĭ-sənt)   
adj.  
  1. Inclined to keep one's thoughts, feelings, and personal affairs to oneself. See Synonyms at silent.
  2. Restrained or reserved in style.
  3. Reluctant; unwilling.

[Latin reticēns, reticent-, present participle of reticēre, to keep silent : re-, re- + tacēre, to be silent.]
ret'i·cent·ly adv.
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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Reticent

Ret"i*cent\, a. [L. reticens, p. pr. of reticere to keep silence; re- + tacere to be silent. See Tacit.] Inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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