All 3 Uses of
discreet
in
Running in the Family
- As discreetly and carefully as whatever animals in the garden fold brown leaves into their mouths, visit the drain for water, or scale the broken glass that crowns the walls.†
p. 190.7 *discreetly = in a manner that is unlikely to attract attention or cause embarrassment
- From his darkness among high flowers
to this room contained by mud walls
everything that is important occurs in shadow—
her discreet slow moving his dreams of walking
from tree to tree without ropes.†p. 88.8
- The thin muscle on the upper arms, the bones and veins at the wrist that almost become part of the discreet bangle, all disappearing into the river of bright sari or faded cotton print.†
p. 110.6
Definitions:
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(1)
(discreet as in: discreet--not showy or gossipy) trustworthy with secrets or subtle (not attracting attention)This sense of discreet sometimes indicates that something is small (so as not to attract attention) as in "discreet earrings."
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(2)
(discreet as in: discreet--not foolish) sensible and careful; possibly having good mannersThis sense of discreet is more commonly seen in classic literature than in modern writing. There is may also refer to having the judgment to exercise good manners.