different between discretion vs acumen

English

Etymology

From Middle English discrecioun, from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discr?ti?, from Latin discerno.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??sk????n/

Noun

discretion (usually uncountable, plural discretions)

1. The quality of being discreet or circumspect.

   Bob showed great discretion despite his knowledge of the affair.

2. The ability to make wise choices or decisions.
3. The freedom to make one's own judgements.

   I leave that to your discretion.

Antonyms

• indiscretion

Derived terms

• discretionary
• discretion is the better part of valour
• surrender at discretion

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• cretinoids, directions, doctrinise

Old French

Alternative forms

• discrecion

Noun

discretion f (oblique plural discretions, nominative singular discretion, nominative plural discretions)

1. discretion (ability to make one's own judgments)

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ac?men (“sharp point”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ækj?m?n/, /??kju?m?n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??kjum?n/, /?ækj?m?n/
• (US, rare) IPA^(key): /æ?kjum?n/, /?ækj??m?n/

Noun

acumen (usually uncountable, plural acumens)

1. Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind; the faculty of nice discrimination.

   Synonyms: sharpness, penetration, keenness, shrewdness, acuteness, acuity, wit, foxiness, intelligence, canniness
2. (botany) A sharp, tapering point extending from a plant.
3. (anatomy) A bony, often sharp, protuberance, especially that of the ischium.

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• acumen on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Latin

Etymology

From acu? (“make sharp or pointed, sharpen”) +? -men (noun-forming suffix), from acus (“a needle, a pin”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /a?ku?.men/, [ä?ku?m?n]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /a?ku.men/, [??ku?m?n]

Noun

ac?men n (genitive ac?minis); third declension

1. a sharpened point

Declension

Third-declension noun (neuter, imparisyllabic non-i-stem).

Derived terms

• ac?min?rius
• ac?min?

Related terms

Descendants

• Galician: gume
• Portuguese: gume

• ? English: acumen
• ? Italian: acume
• ? Portuguese: acume, acúmen
• ? Spanish: acumen

References

• acumen in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• acumen in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• acumen in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• Carl Meissner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book?^[7], London: Macmillan and Co.