1
Stage 1 of 4
cernere
Latin · ancient
"to sift, to distinguish"
to sift, to distinguish, combined with dis- (apart)
2
Stage 2 of 4
discernere
Latin · ancient
"to sift apart, to discern"
to sift apart, to discern, from dis- and cernere, with irregular past participle discretus
3
Stage 3 of 4
discret
Old French · medieval
"careful and wise in speech"
carried into French for someone careful and wise in speech
4
Stage 4 of 4
discreet
English · 1300s
"careful to avoid embarrassment or unwanted attention"
settled as the English word for being careful to avoid embarrassment or attention
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