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discretion

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
dis·cre·tion  (d-skrshn)
n.
1. The quality of being discreet; circumspection. See Synonyms at prudence.
2. Ability or power to decide responsibly.
3. Freedom to act or judge on one's own: All the decisions were left to our discretion.

dis·cretion·al adj.
dis·cretion·al·ly adv.

discretion [diss-kresh-on]
Noun
1. the quality of behaving so as to avoid social embarrassment or distress
2. freedom or authority to make judgments and to act as one sees fit: at his discretion
discretionary adj

Discretion of priests: priests collectivelyBk. of St. Albans, 1486.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.discretion - freedom to act or judge on one's own
liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"
2.discretion - knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress; "the servants showed great tact and discretion"
sagaciousness, sagacity, discernment, judgement, judgment - the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations
confidentiality - discretion in keeping secret information
3.discretion - refined taste; tact
appreciation, discernment, perceptiveness, taste - delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values); "arrogance and lack of taste contributed to his rapid success"; "to ask at that particular time was the ultimate in bad taste"
4.discretion - the power of making free choices unconstrained by external agencies
power, powerfulness - possession of controlling influence; "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade"
self-determination - determination of one's own fate or course of action without compulsion
5.discretion - the trait of judging wisely and objectively; "a man of discernment"
wisdom, wiseness - the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight
circumspection, caution - the trait of being circumspect and prudent
prudence - discretion in practical affairs

discretion
Translations
discretion [dɪˈskrɛʃən] n (= tact) → discreción f (= care); prudencia, circunspección f;
use your own discretion → haz lo que creas oportuno

discretion [dɪˈskrɛʃən] ndiscrétion f;
at the discretion of → à la discrétion de;
use your own discretion → à vous de juger

discretion [dɪsˈkrɛʃən] nDiskretion f;
at the discretion of → im Ermessen +gen;
use your own discretion → Sie müssen nach eigenem Ermessen handeln

discretion [dɪˈskrɛʃən] ndiscrezione f;
use your own discretion → giudichi lei

discretion discreet


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
To show my trust in your discretion I shall leave intact the half you talk with.
You will excuse me for adding that my experience and discretion are quite as likely to be useful to her as your enthusiasm.
But surely discretion has its limits,' he added, 'after such a discovery as we have made?
 
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