reserved

[ri-zurvd]

adjective

kept or set apart for some particular use or purpose.

kept by special arrangement for some person: a reserved seat.

formal or self-restrained in manner and relationship; avoiding familiarity or intimacy with others: a quiet, reserved man.

characterized by reserve, as the disposition, manner, etc.: reserved comments.

retaining the original color of a surface, especially when decorating portions of the surface with other colors.

Origin of reserved

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at reserve, -ed²

Related formsre·serv·ed·ly

[ri-zur-vid-lee] /rɪˈzɜr vɪd li/, adverbre·serv·ed·ness, nouno·ver·re·served, adjectiveo·ver·re·serv·ed·ly, adverbo·ver·re·serv·ed·ness, noun

Synonyms for reserved

3, 4. composed, controlled reticent, constrained, taciturn, withdrawn, distant, cold.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reservedness

Historical Examples of reservedness

You know the sternness, reservedness, and distance of his manners.
Caleb Williams
William Godwin
Nevertheless, he could not entirely abstain from testing the power of her reservedness.
Pierre; or The Ambiguities
Herman Melville
At noon dined at home and Creed with me, who I do really begin to hate, and do use him with some reservedness.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete
Samuel Pepys
This custom, which may make us contract a reservedness or too much familiarity, is extremely ridiculous.
The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment, Dedicated to the Youth of Both Sexes
Elisabeth Celnart

British Dictionary definitions for reservedness

reserved

adjective

set aside for use by a particular person or peoplethis table is reserved

cool or formal in manner; restrained, silent, or reticent

destined; fatedreserved for great things

referring to matters that are the responsibility of the national parliament rather than a devolved regional assemblydefence is a reserved issue

Derived Formsreservedly (rɪˈzɜːvɪdlɪ), adverbreservedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reservedness

reserved

adj.

"guarded" (in manner), c.1600, past participle adjective from reserve (v.). Of seats, tables from 1858.