discreet

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English discrete, from Old French discret, from Latin discrētus, from past participle of discernere. Doublet of discrete.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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discreet (comparative more discreet or discreeter, superlative most discreet or discreetest)

  1. Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
    With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
    John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.
  2. Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Usage notes

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  • Although cognate and identical in the Middle English period, the term has become distinct from discrete.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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Dutch

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Etymology

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From Middle Dutch discreet, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from discernō.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /dɪsˈkreːt/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: dis‧creet
  • Rhymes: -eːt

Adjective

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discreet (comparative discreter, superlative discreetst)

  1. discreet (with discretion)
  2. discrete (not continuous)

Declension

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Declension of discreet
uninflected discreet
inflected discrete
comparative discreter
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial discreet discreter het discreetst
het discreetste
indefinite m./f. sing. discrete discretere discreetste
n. sing. discreet discreter discreetste
plural discrete discretere discreetste
definite discrete discretere discreetste
partitive discreets discreters

Derived terms

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