Both Uses of
discreet
in
An Ideal Husband
- And now tell me, what makes you leave your brilliant Vienna for our gloomy London—or perhaps the question is indiscreet?
Act 1indiscreet = not trustworthy, or improper, or attracting unwelcome attentionstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indiscreet means not and reverses the meaning of discreet. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.
Act 1 *indiscreet = embarrassing (by revealing secrets)standard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indiscreet means not and reverses the meaning of discreet. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
Definition:
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(discreet as in: discreet--not showy or gossipy) trustworthy with secrets or subtle (not attracting attention)editor's notes: This sense of discreet sometimes indicates that something is small (so as not to attract attention) as in "discreet earrings."