different between noncommittal vs unspeaking

English

Alternative forms

• non-commital
• noncommital
• non-committal

Etymology

non- +? committal

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n?nk??m?tl?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?nk??m?tl?/

Adjective

noncommittal (comparative more noncommittal, superlative most noncommittal)

1. Tending to avoid commitment; lacking certainty or decisiveness; reluctant to give out information or show one's feelings or opinion.

   The Major's face was noncommittal.

   The noncommittal Indians would give no counsel as to fording.

   • 1818, S.R. Wells, The American Phrenonological Journal, and other miscellany, v. 10, p. 234:

     [He] is candid, open-hearted, and hardly non-commmittal enough for his own interest at times.

Derived terms

• noncommittally

Translations

See also

• reticent

References

English

Etymology 1

un- +? speaking

Adjective

unspeaking (comparative more unspeaking, superlative most unspeaking)

1. Silent, not talking.
2. Mute, unable to speak for physical or psychological reasons.

Etymology 2

unspeak +? -ing

Verb

unspeaking

1. present participle of unspeak