All 6 Uses of
discretion
in
Washington Square
- She had told Morris Townsend that she would not mention him to her father, and she saw no reason to retract this vow of discretion.
Chpt 8 (definition 1) *discretion = keeping a secret (so that discomfort is not caused for another)
- She sat motionless, with her eyes bent down, staring at her open fan, deeply flushed, shrinking together as if to minimise the indiscretion of which she confessed herself guilty.
Chpt 9 (definition 1)indiscretion = behavior that attracts undesirable attention or reveals private informationstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indiscretion means not and reverses the meaning of discretion. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
- Only, I should add, he should choose his line with discretion.
Chpt 9 (definition 2)discretion = good judgment or good taste
- "Ah, yes, with discretion," Morris Townsend repeated sympathetically.
Chpt 9 (definition 2)
- I have not interfered, I have left you your liberty, I have remembered that you are no longer a little girl-that you have arrived at years of discretion.
Chpt 11 (definition 2) *discretion = good judgment
- Excuse my indiscretion.
Chpt 35 (definition 1)indiscretion = behavior that attracts undesirable attention or reveals private informationstandard prefix: The prefix "in-" in indiscretion means not and reverses the meaning of discretion. This is the same pattern you see in words like invisible, incomplete, and insecure.
Definitions:
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(1) (discretion as in: embarrassing lack of discretion) behavior that does not attract undesired attention or reveal private information
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(2) (discretion as in: Parental discretion advised.) good judgment or good taste