different between tentative vs discreet

English

Etymology

French tentatif, from Latin tentativus (“trying, testing”), from tento, past participle tentatus (“to try, test”); see tent, tempt.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?nt?t?v/
• Hyphenation: ten?ta?tive

Noun

tentative (plural tentatives)

1. A trial; an experiment; an attempt.

Adjective

tentative (comparative more tentative, superlative most tentative)

1. Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying; experimental.
2. Uncertain; subject to future change.

Derived terms

• tentativeness
• tentatively

Antonyms

• (subject to future change): conclusive, definitive, certain

Translations

Further reading

• tentative in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• tentative in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• attentive

French

Etymology

From Medieval Latin tent?t?va, from tent? (“to attempt”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /t??.ta.tiv/

Noun

tentative f (plural tentatives)

1. attempt, try, effort

   Synonym: essai

Related terms

• tenter

Further reading

• “tentative” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

tentative

1. inflection of tentativ:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

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