discretion

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪˈskɹɛʃən/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English discrecioun, borrowed from Old French discrecion (“discretion”) and directly Medieval Latin discrētiō (“discernment, power to make distinctions”),^[2][3][4] which in classical Latin meant separation or distinction,^[2][3] a noun formed from the past participle stem of discernō (“to separate, distinguish”) (see discern).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The ability to perceive and understand: about 1300 in Etymonline,^[2] and in Barnhart about 1303, in Robert Mannyng's Handlyng Synne, with the sense of discernment or prudence.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The word passed from the Latin idea of separating things to the power of separating ideas, that is, fine judgement, the sense it had when it reached English from French.^[6] Moral discernment, the ability to tell right from wrong, is from the mid-14th century, and prudence in one's conduct from about 1400.^[2] The power to decide or act on one's own judgement is from the late 14th century,^[2][7] and is the base of the phrase at one's discretion, from the 1570s (earlier in one's discretion).^[2] In law it is the power of a court or official to decide within the limits of the law.^[7][8] The age of discretion was 14 in English law.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1300 – ability to perceive and understand.^[2]
• mid-14th century – moral discernment.^[2]
• 1399 – liberty to act on one's own judgement.^[7]
• c. 1400 – prudence in conduct.^[2]
• 1570s – at one's discretion.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The quality of being discreet; tact and care not to cause offence or reveal private matters.
2. Freedom or authority to decide and act as one sees fit: at the discretion of the court.
3. The ability to decide responsibly; good judgement.

Word family

• discretional
• discretionally
• discretionary
• age of discretion

Related words

• discern
• discreet
• discrete
• discriminate

Usage notes

The proverb discretion is the better part of valour was familiar in Shakespeare's time; a similar idea appears in Euripides.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin