discreet
[dih-skreet]
- 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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Origin of discreet
Synonym study
1. See careful.
Antonyms
1. indiscreet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for discreetly
Contemporary Examples
The traffic agent was kind enough to direct Sarah discreetly to a closed-off street running behind the arena.
The novel also has a second gay character, in the form many are familiar with—the wise, kind, but discreetly gay uncle.
Popular Novelist Ken Follett Is a Slightly Unlikely and Certainly Unsung Gay IconWilliam O’Connor
October 1, 2014
Still, Samore added that on two occasions the Russians had discreetly warned Assad about using the weapons.
"Correa has been discreetly making gestures to come closer to Western powers," Palacio says.
So far Elisabeth has managed to discreetly distance herself from the train crash at the newspapers.
Historical Examples
Whereupon Bandy-legs discreetly allowed Max to pass him also.
With Trapper Jim in the North WoodsLawrence J. Leslie
Mr. Bentham discreetly ignored the covert threat in Wrayson's words.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
I questioned when I should once have discreetly inclined the head and held my peace.
The First ViolinJessie Fothergill
Since that day she had grumbled about him again, but discreetly, with a certain vagueness.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
Florent, surprised at hearing this, discreetly turned his head away.
The Fat and the ThinEmile Zola
discreet
- careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful
- unobtrusive
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Word Origin
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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Word Origin and History for discreetly
discreet
adj.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper