Where does “indiscreet” come from?
Indiscreet comes from English in- (not) combined with discreet, which derives from Latin discrētus (separated), itself from Latin dis- (apart) and Latin crētus (separated), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning separation.
indiscreet (English): Not discreet; lacking in discretion
Definitions
- Not discreet; lacking in discretion
Ancestry of “indiscreet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | discreet | Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising... |
| 2 | Middle English | discrete | — |
| 3 | Old French | discret | different |
| 4 | Latin | discrētus | separated |
| 5 | Latin | discernō | to separate, set apart, divide, part |
| 6 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 7 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 8 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |