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   Dis·cre·tion

   /dəˈskreSHən/

   

   noun

   • 1. the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information: "she knew she could rely on his discretion" Similar circumspectioncarecarefulnesscautionwarinesscharinessguardednesstacttactfulnessdiplomacydelicacysensitivitysubtletyconsiderationprudencejudiciousnessjudgmentdiscriminationsensegood sensecommon sensekid glovesOpposite indiscretionrashness
   • 2. the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation: "it is up to local authorities to use their discretion in setting the charges" Similar choiceoptionjudgmentpreferencedispositionvolitionpleasurelikingwishwillinclinationdesire

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘discernment’): via Old French from Latin discretio(n-) ‘separation’ (in late Latin ‘discernment’), from discernere (see discern).

   Scrabble Points: 13

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