All 6 Uses of
discretion
in
Washington Square, by Henry James
- 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 *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 9indiscretion = 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 9discretion = good judgment or good taste
- "Ah, yes, with discretion," Morris Townsend repeated sympathetically.
Chpt 9
- 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 *discretion = good judgment
- Excuse my indiscretion.
Chpt 35indiscretion = 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:
-
(1)
(discretion as in: It is within her discretion.) the right to make a decision (and perhaps accompanying good judgment)
-
(2)
(discretion as in: embarrassing lack of discretion) behavior that does not attract undesired attention or reveal private information
-
(3)
(discretion as in: Parental discretion advised.) good judgment or good taste