Someone discreet knows how to keep a secret.
The Latin word discrētus came to our language as discrete . This is how he or she who has discretion is described: prudence, tact, moderation or reserve .
For example: “The doorman of the building must be someone discreet, who does not talk about the movements and habits of the neighbors,” “At the formal dinner with the foreign leaders, the first lady wore a discreet and elegant dress,” “During During his tour of the country, the American musician remained discreet, without carrying out public activities beyond his concerts .
Individuals and discrete elements
A discreet person is measured and does not attract attention due to his appearance, his actions or his statements. A discreet individual, therefore, is neither bombastic nor extravagant and usually goes unnoticed. The same can be said about discrete actions or objects: a discrete event is not massive or pompous, just as a discrete suit is sober.
This adjective can also be used pejoratively , emphasizing that someone or something fails to stand out or stand out. A journalist may mention that the level of play of an athlete in a certain competition was discreet since the athlete in question failed to shine. A discreet book, on the other hand, may be somewhat entertaining, but it is unlikely to amaze the reader.
A discreet environment has a measured decoration, without exaggerated ornamentation.
Synonyms and nuances
Among the various synonyms that we can find for the term discreet , are the following: moderate, judicious, reserved, prudent, measured, sensible, veiled, circumspect, secret and hidden . Regarding its antonyms, we can quote: stupid, foolish and indiscreet .
Both lists provide us with essential information to understand the nuances that characterize this word, which has a very frequent presence both in everyday speech and in literature and the press. If we focus on judicious , for example, it is an adjective that is defined as "someone who acts in a sensible or sane manner", and this tells us about a constant analysis of the potential consequences of actions, something opposite to spontaneity. .
Examples of use of the term discrete
Judicious people are also moderate and prudent , two more synonyms of those listed above: they do not take a step just for the sake of it, without having carefully considered in which direction it will take them. But discreet people do not make big leaps either, not even in those situations in which they know with certainty that they will land on a safe point, since they prefer to move forward with a certain slowness, always with the desire to maintain control and avoid unforeseen events.
When we think of discreet decoration or design, the idea that comes to mind is “objects that are present but do not stand out,” as if the goal were for them to provide certain stylistic or aesthetic touches with the least degree of possible invasion. Depending on the point of view, it can be an attractive or non-committal way of creating, since there are those who are not afraid to place different strong elements in a work, at the risk of them "fighting" among themselves to get the public's attention .
The notion in mathematics, computer science and topology
In the field of mathematics , a magnitude is classified as discrete when it acquires separate and distinct values. Between these values, there are no other intermediate ones. A discrete function , in this framework, is one that has a countable set as its domain of definition.
For computer science, the term discrete refers to the particular way in which a given packet of information or symbol must be encoded. To cite an example, in the ASCII character code, created in 1963, the character A has the discrete value "01000001" in binary language.
On the other hand, in the field of topology, the mathematical branch that focuses on the properties of geometric bodies that do not suffer alterations due to continuous transformations, a space is considered discrete if its subsets are open.