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discretion
(redirected from discretion is the better part of valor)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Wikipedia 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
Spanish discretion [dɪˈskrɛʃən] n (= tact) → discreción f (= care); prudencia, circunspección f;
use your own discretion → haz lo que creas oportuno

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

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

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

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Whoever said discretion is the better part of valor (Shakespeare?
 
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