Where does “discretion” come from?
Discretion comes from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discretio, derived from the Latin verb root dis- combined with the Proto-Indo-European root krey-.
discretion (English): The quality of being discreet or circumspect; The...
Definitions
- The quality of being discreet or circumspect; The...
Ancestry of “discretion”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | discretion | discretion (ability to make one's own judgments) |
| 2 | Late Latin | discretio | separation; difference, distinction; discernment,... |
| 3 | Latin | discernō | to separate, set apart, divide, part |
| 4 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 5 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 6 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |