reticence

Sometimes reti·cen·cy

[ret-uh-suhns]

noun

1. the state of being reticent, or reserved, especially with regard to speaking freely; restraint.

   His natural reticence seemed to disappear under the influence of alcohol.

Other Word Forms

• nonreticence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reticence¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from French réticence, from Latin reticentia, equivalent to reticent-, stem of reticēns (present participle of reticēre “to be silent”) + -ia -y ³ ( def. ); reticent ( def. )

Related Words

• hesitation 
• shyness www.thesaurus.com