different between discreet vs foxy

English

Etymology

From Middle English discrete, from Old French discret, from Latin discr?tus, from past participle of discernere. Doublet of discrete.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??sk?i?t/
• Rhymes: -i?t
• Homophone: discrete (separable into parts)

Adjective

discreet (comparative more discreet or discreeter, superlative most discreet or discreetest)

1. Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.

   With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.

   John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.

2. Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Usage notes

• Although cognate and identical in the Middle English period, the term has become distinct from discrete.

Derived terms

• discreetly
• discretion

Translations

Anagrams

• desertic, discrete

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch discreet, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discr?tus, from discern?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d?s?kre?t/
• Hyphenation: dis?creet
• Rhymes: -e?t

Adjective

discreet (comparative discreter, superlative discreetst)

1. discreet (with discretion)
2. discrete (not continuous)

Inflection

Derived terms

• discretie

English

Etymology

From fox +? -y.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?f?ksi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f?ksi/
• Rhymes: -?ksi
• Hyphenation: fox?y

Adjective

foxy (comparative foxier, superlative foxiest)

1. Having the qualities of a fox.
2. Cunning, sly.
3. Attractive, sexy (of a woman).
4. (of a person, especially a woman) Reddish-brown haired.
5. (art) Using too much of the reddish-brown colours.
   • 1844, Benjamin Robert Haydon, Lectures on Painting and Design:

     His eye for colour was so exquisite that I do not think there is a single instance in all his works of a heated tint which is called foxy. This cannot be said of Rubens or Rembrandt […]

   • 1870, Frederick Peter Seguier, A Critical and Commercial Dictionary of the Works of Painters:

     Although the skies of Brydael's pictures are often broken with rather heavy masses of orange and yellow clouds, yet, taking him altogether, he was not a 'foxy' painter; on the contrary, there is a silvery coolness about some of his pictures which pleases us.

6. (of wine) Having an animal-like odour.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:sexy

Translations