discreet

• adj. 谨慎的；小心的

dis-, 分开，散开。-creet, 区分，词源同crisis, critic, discern. 即区分好坏善恶的，慎重的。

discreet

discreet: [14] Discreet and discrete [14] are ultimately the same word. Both come from Latin discrētus, the past participle of discernere ‘distinguish’ (source of English discern). Discrete was borrowed direct from Latin, and retains its original meaning more closely: ‘distinct, separate’. The Latin abstract noun formed from the past participle, discrētiō (source of English discretion [14]), developed the sense ‘power to make distinctions’.

This fed back into the adjective, giving it the meaning ‘showing good judgment’, the semantic guise in which English acquired it from Old French discret. This was usually spelled discrete too until the 16th century, when discreet (based on the -ee- spelling commonly used in words like sweet and feet which rhymed with discrete) became the established form for the more widely used sense ‘judicious’.
=> certain, discern, discrete, secret

discreet (adj.)

mid-14c., "morally discerning, prudent, circumspect," from Old French discret "discreet, sensible, intelligent, wise," from Latin discretus "separated, distinct," in Medieval Latin "discerning, careful," past participle of discernere "distinguish" (see discern). Meaning "separate, distinct" in English is late 14c.

Spellings discrete and nativized discreet co-existed until after c. 1600, when discreet became the common word for "careful, prudent," and discrete was maintained in philosophy, medicine, music and other disciplines that remembered Latin and made effort to obey it. Related: Discreetly.

1. She had meant to make a discreet entrance, but conversation stopped dead.

她本打算悄悄进去，但谈话却突然中断了。

来自柯林斯例句

2. She's making a few discreet inquiries with her mother's friends.

她旁敲侧击地向她母亲的朋友们打听过几次。

来自柯林斯例句

3. She wore discreet jewellery.

她戴着素净的首饰。

来自柯林斯例句

4. We were very discreet about the romance.

我们对这段恋情很谨慎。

来自柯林斯例句

5. They were gossipy and not always discreet.

他们很爱传闲话，而且常常口无遮拦。

来自柯林斯例句