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reticent

[ ret-uh-suhnt ]
/ ˈrɛt ə sənt /
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adjective
disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
reluctant or restrained.

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Origin of reticent

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin reticent- (stem of reticēns ), present participle of reticēre ā€œto be silent,ā€ equivalent to re- ā€œagain, backā€ + -tic-, combining form of tacēre ā€œto be silentā€ (cf. tacit) + -ent- adjective suffix; see re-, -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM reticent

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reticent

reluctant, reticent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reticent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reticent

reticent
/ (ˈrɛtÉŖsənt) /

adjective
not open or communicative; not saying all that one knows; taciturn; reserved

Derived forms of reticent

reticence, nounreticently, adverb

Word Origin for reticent

C19: from Latin reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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