discreet
[ dih-skreet ]
/ dɪˈskrit /
adjective
judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.
showing prudence and circumspection; decorous: a discreet silence.
modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious: a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace.
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RELATED WORDS
noncommittal, watchful, prudent, tactful, considerate, thoughtful, reasonable, attentive, careful, intelligent, restrained, alert, awake, cagey, calculating, chary, circumspect, civil, conservative, diplomatic
Nearby words
- discovery method,
- discovery procedure,
- discreate,
- discredit,
- discreditable,
- discreetly,
- discrepancy,
- discrepant,
- discrete,
- discrete variable
Origin of discreet
Synonym study
1. See careful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for discreet
discreet
/ (dɪˈskriːt) /
adjective
careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful
unobtrusive
Word Origin for discreet
C14: from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin discernere to discern
confusable
Avoid confusion with discrete
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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discreet
mid-14c., "morally discerning, prudent, circumspect," from Old French discret "discreet, sensible, intelligent, wise," from Latin discretus "separated, distinct," in Medieval Latin "discerning, careful," past participle of discernere "distinguish" (see discern). Meaning "separate, distinct" in English is late 14c.
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 Latin and made effort to obey it. Related: Discreetly.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper