Showing posts with label indiscreet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indiscreet. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

discreet, discrete

Discreet or discreet means having the ability to keep a secret, or to refrain from giving a secret away, as a form of tact or savoir-faire--
Try to find out what the boss is planning, but be discreet.
Be discreet when you try to find out if he's interested.

Discrete or discrete ( rhymes with discreet ) means completely distinct or separate--
The people assembled formed three discrete groups.
He attempted to classify the information into discrete categories.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"His injunction to be discreet had four discrete parts."

Note--"discretion" is the noun ( thing or idea ) form of "discreet"--
"Discretion is the better part of valor."
Use discretion when asking for personal information.
Note # 2--"indiscreet" means lacking tact, or blabbing something that should have been kept a secret, such as a personal opinion of one's employer, or an illicit relationship or extramarital affair--
Posting that note about your boss was indiscreet.
"sexy ladies, from the 80's who are indiscreet..."