discreet English · revision 824

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈskɹiːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|discret]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|discret|t=discreet, sensible, wise]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-med|discrētus|t=discerning, careful]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Latin ''discrētus'' “separated, distinct”, past participle of ''discernere'' “to separate, distinguish” (see [[discern]]).^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The active sense in Late Latin was taken over from ''discrētiō'' “discernment”.^(Hoad 1986) It is a doublet of [[discrete]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, showing discernment in guiding one's own speech and action; judicious, prudent, circumspect (1340 in the OED; about 1385 in Barnhart; late 14th century in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 15th century ''discret'', ''discrete'' and ''discreet'' were variant spellings of one word, used for all the senses of both modern words.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) By about 1600 ''discreet'' had become the usual form for “careful, prudent”, while ''discrete'' was kept for the sense “separate, distinct” in philosophy, medicine, music and other learned fields where Latin was better known.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) In Scots the word came to mean well-behaved or polite (1727–46).^(OED 1989) The modern meanings stress tact, the keeping of confidences, and an unobtrusive or modest manner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – of persons, prudent, judicious.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1374 – of speech or action.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1528 – noun, a discreet person or adviser (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * late 16th century – spelling ''discreet'' specialized for “prudent”.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Showing [[prudence]] and wise self-restraint in speech and conduct, especially in keeping silent about private or delicate matters; [[circumspect]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Unpretentious, modest or unobtrusive, as in ''a discreet gold necklace''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[discreetly]]

+ * [[discreetness]]

+ * [[indiscreet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[discretion]]

+ * [[discrete]]

+ * [[discern]]

+ * [[certain]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Though identical in Middle English, ''discreet'' (“prudent”) and ''[[discrete]]'' (“separate, distinct”) are now distinct words.^(Wiktionary)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}