discretion

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dis·cre·tion

(dĭ-skrĕsh′ən)

1. The quality of being discreet; circumspection: "the almost unknown young man who lived in the upper room ... coming and going with discretion" (Doris Lessing).

2. Freedom to act or judge on one's own: All the decisions were left to our discretion.

3. Archaic The ability or power to discern what is responsible or socially appropriate: "She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion" (Jane Austen).

dis·cre′tion·al adj.

dis·cre′tion·al·ly adv.

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.

discretion

(dɪˈskrɛʃən)

1. the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid social embarrassment or distress

2. freedom or authority to make judgments and to act as one sees fit (esp in the phrases at one's own discretion, at the discretion of)

3. age of discretion years of discretion the age at which a person is considered to be able to manage his or her own affairs

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

dis•cre•tion

(dɪˈskrɛʃ ən)

n.

1. the power to decide or act according to one's own judgment.

2. the quality of being discreet; prudence or decorum; tactfulness.

[1250–1300; < Late Latin discrētiō. See discreet, -ion]

Discretion

of priests: priests collectively—Bk. of St. Albans, 1486.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	discretion - freedom to act or judge on one's own liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"
	2.	discretion - knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; "the servants showed great tact and discretion" circumspection, discreetness, prudence sagaciousness, sagacity, discernment, judgement, judgment - the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations confidentiality - discretion in keeping secret information
	3.	discretion - refined taste; tact delicacy appreciation, discernment, perceptiveness, taste - delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values); "arrogance and lack of taste contributed to his rapid success"; "to ask at that particular time was the ultimate in bad taste"
	4.	discretion - the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies free will power, powerfulness - possession of controlling influence; "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade" self-determination - determination of one's own fate or course of action without compulsion
	5.	discretion - the trait of judging wisely and objectively; "a man of discernment" discernment wisdom, wiseness - the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight circumspection, caution - the trait of being circumspect and prudent prudence - discretion in practical affairs

discretion

noun

1. tact, care, consideration, judgment, caution, diplomacy, good sense, prudence, acumen, wariness, discernment, circumspection, sagacity, carefulness, judiciousness, heedfulness He conducted the whole affair with the utmost discretion.
tact indiscretion, carelessness, insensitivity, thoughtlessness, rashness, tactlessness

2. choice, will, wish, liking, mind, option, pleasure, preference, inclination, disposition, predilection, volition She was given the money to use at her own discretion.

Proverbs
"Discretion is the better part of valour"

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

discretion

noun

1. The exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters:

caution, circumspection, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethought, forethoughtfulness, precaution, prudence.

2. Unrestricted freedom to choose:

pleasure, will.

Translations

تَعَقُّلتَعَقُّل، حَذَر، حَصافَهحُرِّيَّةِ التَّصَرُّف

diskrétnostúsudekuvážení

diskretionkonduite

Diskretion Gutdünken Verschwiegenheit

διακριτικότητα διάκριση

discreción juicio criterio delicadeza

tahdikkuustilannetajuharkintakykyhienotunteisuushienovaraisuus

discrétion précaution prudence sagesse

diskrecija

dómgreind, ákvörîunarvaldòagmælska

discrezione tatto

分別

자유 재량

благоразумие осмотрительность прозорливость

diskrétnosťzváženie

diskretion

การใช้ดุลยพินิจ

ağzı sıkılıkdikkat ihtiyat sağduyutakdir edebilme yeteneği

sự thận trọng

谨慎判断力

discretion

[dɪsˈkreʃən] N

1. (= tact) → discreción f
discretion is the better part of valour → una retirada a tiempo es una victoria

2. (= judgment) → criterio m, juicio m
use your own discretion → usa tu propio criterio or juicio
I will leave it to your discretion → te lo dejaré a tu criterio or juicio
at the discretion of the judge → a discreción or a criterio del juez
the age of discretion → (la edad de) la madurez

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

discretion

[dɪˈskrɛʃ^ən] n

(= authority) → discrétion f
to have the discretion to do sth → avoir la compétence de faire qch
to exercise one's discretion to do sth → user de sa compétence pour faire qch
at the discretion of sb, at sb's discretion → à la discrétion de qn

(= judgement) to use one's discretion → s'en remettre à son propre jugement
to use one's own discretion to decide → s'en remettre à son propre jugement pour trancher
Use your own discretion
BUT À vous de juger.

(= tact, discreet behaviour) → discrétion f
discretion is the better part of valour → prudence est mère de sûreté

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

discretion

→ Diskretion f; discretion is the better part of valour (Brit Prov) → Vorsicht ist die Mutter der Porzellankiste (inf)

(= freedom of decision) → Ermessen nt; to leave something to somebody’s discretion → etw in jds Ermessen (acc) → stellen; use your own discretion → Sie müssen nach eigenem Ermessen handeln; to be at somebody’s discretion → in jds Ermessen (dat) → stehen; to do something at one’s discretion → etw nach eigenem Ermessen tun

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

discretion

[dɪsˈkrɛʃ/ən] n → discrezione f
at your/his discretion → a tua/sua discrezione
use your own discretion → giudica tu

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.

discretion

→ تَعَقُّل diskrétnost diskretion Diskretion διακριτικότητα discreción tahdikkuus discrétion diskrecija discrezione 分別 자유 재량 discretie diskresjon dyskrecja discrição благоразумие diskretion การใช้ดุลยพินิจ sağduyu sự thận trọng 谨慎

discretion

n. discreción, prudencia; acuerdo.

References in classic literature ?

In the second case, when those who fight are of such a character that you have no anxiety as to who may conquer, so much the more is it greater prudence to be allied, because you assist at the destruction of one by the aid of another who, if he had been wise, would have saved him; and conquering, as it is impossible that he should not do with your assistance, he remains at your discretion. And here it is to be noted that a prince ought to take care never to make an alliance with one more powerful than himself for the purposes of attacking others, unless necessity compels him, as is said above; because if he conquers you are at his discretion, and princes ought to avoid as much as possible being at the discretion of any one.

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It may display the subtlety of the writer; it may open a boundless field for rhetoric and declamation; it may inflame the passions of the unthinking, and may confirm the prejudices of the misthinking: but cool and candid people will at once reflect, that the purest of human blessings must have a portion of alloy in them; that the choice must always be made, if not of the lesser evil, at least of the GREATER, not the PERFECT, good; and that in every political institution, a power to advance the public happiness involves a discretion which may be misapplied and abused.

If a federal Constitution could chain the ambition or set bounds to the exertions of all other nations, then indeed might it prudently chain the discretion of its own government, and set bounds to the exertions for its own safety.

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"I assure you, madam, that I had not intended to disclose my affection," the Engaging Gentleman humbly explained, "but the power of your beauty has overcome my discretion."

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Except as to the rule of appointment, the United States has an indefinite discretion to make requisitions for men and money; but they have no authority to raise either, by regulations extending to the individual citizens of America.

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"Look here, heretic, have I not told thee a thousand times that I have never once in my life seen the peerless Dulcinea or crossed the threshold of her palace, and that I am enamoured solely by hearsay and by the great reputation she bears for beauty and discretion?"

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The tact which I find here, the discretion, the rare courage, the wonderful power of memory, the accurate observation of character, the easy grace of style, the charming outbursts of womanly feeling, have all inexpressibly increased my admiration of this sublime creature, of this magnificent Marian.

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as it was; for, by this time, such a feeling existed in our extreme cote gauche, that it may be questioned if the handkerchiefs of that end of the piece would have behaved themselves in the wardrobe of the dauphine with the discretion and prudence that are expected from every thing around the person of a princess of her exalted rank and excellent character.

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I feel sure that I can trust your discretion, sir, so far?'

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Now Joe Goose and Nelson had learned discretion with straight whisky, drunk in quantity.

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I suppose then, that going plump on a flying whale with your sail set in a foggy squall is the height of a whaleman's discretion? Certain.

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For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided.

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