Where does “discreet” come from?
discreet (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch discreet, from Old French discret, from Latin discrētus, from Latin discernō, from Latin dis-, from Latin calceus, from Latin calx, from Ancient Greek χάλιξ — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.
discreet (Dutch): discreet; discrete
Definitions
- discreet; discrete
Ancestry of “discreet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | discreet | — |
| 2 | Old French | discret | different |
| 3 | Latin | discrētus | separated |
| 4 | Latin | discernō | to separate, set apart, divide, part |
| 5 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 6 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 7 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |