discretus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [dɪsˈkreː.tʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [disˈkrɛː.tus]^[1]

Forms

discrētus (feminine discrēta, neuter discrētum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is the perfect passive participle of discernō “to separate, distinguish”, used as an adjective.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Varro, of what is set apart.^[2] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant placed apart, separate, as in Varro, and in Celsus distinguished, differentiated.^[2]

In Late Latin it meant discerning, prudent, as in Gregory's discrētissima dispēnsātiō.^[5] Medieval Latin used it for distinct, different, uncommon, outstanding, and discreet, prudent.^[6] It survives in Italian discreto and French discret, and Old French discret gave English discreet in the late 14th century, “morally discerning, prudent”, and English discrete “separate”.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the separate.^[2][4]
• 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of the distinguished.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English discreet and discrete are recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Separate, apart.^[2]
2. Distinguished, differentiated.^[2]
3. (Late Latin) Discreet, prudent.^[5][6]

Related words

• discrētiō
• indiscrētus
• discernō
• English discreet
• English discrete

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill