discreet

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discreet

judicious in one’s conduct or speech; careful; circumspect; prudent; modest

Not to be confused with:

discrete – constituting a separate thing; distinct; different; individual; unconnected

dis·creet

(dĭ-skrēt′)

adj.

1. Possessed of, exercising, or showing prudence and self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect: The teacher was discreet in discussing the student's behavior. We followed him but kept a discreet distance.

2. Made, done, or situated so as to attract little notice: made a discreet exit out the back door; lovers seeking a discreet place to meet.

[Middle English, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin, past participle of discernere, to separate, discern; see discern.]

dis·creet′ly adv.

dis·creet′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

discreet

(dɪˈskriːt)

adj

1. careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful

2. unobtrusive

[C14: from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin discernere to discern]

disˈcreetly adv

disˈcreetness n

Usage: Avoid confusion with discrete

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dis•creet

(dɪˈskrit)

adj.

judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to keeping silent about a delicate matter.

[1325–75; Middle English discret < Anglo-French, Old French < Medieval Latin discrētus, Latin: separated, past participle of discernere]

dis•creet′ly, adv.

dis•creet′ness, n.

syn: See careful.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	discreet - marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; "his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace" indiscreet - lacking discretion; injudicious; "her behavior was indiscreet at the very best"
	2.	discreet - unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic; "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence" discerning tactful - having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others; "she was tactful enough not to shatter his illusion"; "a tactful remark eased her embarrassment"
	3.	discreet - heedful of potential consequences; "circumspect actions"; "physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use"; "a discreet investor" circumspect prudent - careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; "a prudent manager"; "prudent rulers"; "prudent hesitation"; "more prudent to hide than to fight"

discreet

adjective

1. tactful, diplomatic, politic, reserved, guarded, careful, sensible, cautious, wary, discerning, prudent, considerate, judicious, circumspect, sagacious He followed at a discreet distance.
tactful rash, unwise, indiscreet, unthinking, tactless, injudicious, incautious, undiplomatic

2. unobtrusive, modest, subtle, restrained, subdued, low-key, unassuming, unpretentious, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unostentatious She is wearing discreet jewelery. see discrete

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

discreet

adjective

1. Showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others:

delicate, diplomatic, politic, sensitive, tactful.

2. Kept within sensible limits:

conservative, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate.

Translations

حَكيم، رَزين، حَذِر

diskrétnímlčenlivýrozvážný

diskret

diskret verschwiegen vorsichtig

διακριτικός εχέμυθος

discreto

hienotunteinenhienovarainenhillittytahdikas

discret sage

diszkréttapintatostitoktartó

òagmælskur

discreto discrezionale discrezione riservato decente

diskretiškasdiskretiškumasnuožiūrataktiškumas

apdomīgsdiskrētspiesardzīgs

diskré taktfull

ağzı sıkıölçülütemkinli

谨慎的

discreet

[dɪsˈkriːt] ADJ [person, inquiry, decor, uniform] → discreto
at a discreet distance → a una distancia prudencial

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

discreet

[dɪˈskriːt] adj

(= diplomatic) [person] → discret/ète; [remark] → discret/ète
She's making a few discreet inquiries → Elle enquête discrètement.
to be discreet about sth → être discret/ète à propos de qch
at a discreet distance → à une distance respectueuse

(= understated) [decor, appearance, place, jewellery] → discret/ète

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

discreet

adj → diskret; inquiry → diskret, taktvoll; account → taktvoll; elegance → unaufdringlich; jewellery, tie, dress, decoration → dezent; at a discreet distance → in einer diskreten Entfernung; to maintain a discreet presence → eine unauffällige Präsenz aufrechterhalten; to keep or maintain a discreet silence → diskret schweigen; to be discreet about something → etw diskret behandeln

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

discreet

[dɪsˈkriːt] adj → discreto/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

discreet

(diˈskriːt) adjective

wise, cautious and not saying anything which might cause trouble. My secretary won't let the secret out – she's very discreet.

diˈscreetness noun

diˈscretion (-ˈskre-) noun

1. discreetness. A secretary needs discretion and tact.

2. personal judgement. I leave the arrangements entirely to your discretion; The money will be distributed at the discretion of the management.

discreet

a. discreto-a, prudente.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

I remember saying to myself, as I drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!" But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no one's attentions but Mainwaring's.

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Discreet followers and servants, help much to reputation.

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Miss Bridget Allworthy (for that was the name of this lady) very rightly conceived the charms of person in a woman to be no better than snares for herself, as well as for others; and yet so discreet was she in her conduct, that her prudence was as much on the guard as if she had all the snares to apprehend which were ever laid for her whole sex.

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She was already growing impatient, and stamped her foot, ready to cry at his not coming at once, when she heard the young man's discreet steps approaching neither quickly nor slowly.

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If Sir Theodore Barville puts it on that footing, the lawyers, even if they do not allow his wife to look at the report, will at least answer any discreet questions she may ask referring to it.

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For rather will I have noise and thunders and tempest-blasts, than this discreet, doubting cat-repose; and also amongst men do I hate most of all the soft-treaders, and half-and-half ones, and the doubting, hesitating, passing clouds.

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It was rather too late in the day to set about being simpleminded and ignorant; but she left her with every previous resolution confirmed of being humble and discreet, and repressing imagination all the rest of her life.

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This little group had in its advance dragged inward, so to speak, the circumference of the now almost complete circle of people, and a number of dim black figures followed it at discreet distances.

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His wishes are then disclosed by some discreet friend employed by him for the purpose.

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I do not see why history has not transmitted to posterity the names of these four discreet and venerable damsels.

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They went to Norton, where they related their strange experience to several discreet friends.

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"Now will I pray meekly every discreet person that readeth or heareth this little treatise, to have my rude inditing for excused, and my superfluity of words, for two causes.