Word Wednesday: Discreet and Discrete

Welcome to another Word Wednesday! Last week I couldn't post one, but I'm making up for it with these two words that I hope you'll find interesting: discreet and discrete!

DISCREET \pronounced: dis-KREET\ a adjective meaning:

1.  Marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint

"his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace"
2. Unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic. "a discreet silence"

3. Heedful of potential consequences. "a discreet investor"

Related Forms:

Discreetness (noun);
Indiscreet (adjective)
Discreetly (adverb);
Indiscreetly (adverb)

Synonyms:

Discerning (meaning 2)
Curcumspect (meaning 3)

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DISCRETE: \pronounced dis-KREET\ also an adjective meaning:

1. Constituting a separate entity or part

"a government with three discrete divisions"

Related Forms:

Discreteness (noun);
Discretise; Discretize (verb)
Indiscrete (adjective)
Indiscretely (adverb)

Synonyms


Distinctness
Separateness
Severalty



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I know, I know. These two can be confusing. To be honest, I didn't know of discrete until I typed discretely in place of discreetly and went like 'that's not right'. Word, however, hadn't highlighted it so I decided to check it out. You learn something new everyday.

PS. Don't forget to hop over to my friend Kiru Taye's blog where I'm giving away a free copy of Most Eligible Bachelor to one lucky commenter.