reticent
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.ret·i·cent
adjective \ˈre-tə-sənt\Definition of RETICENT
1
: inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved
2
: restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance <the room has an aspect of reticent dignity — A. N. Whitehead>
See Examples of RETICENT
- <the panel decided to investigate the fraud charges against the company, which has always been reticent about its internal operations>
- <her husband is by nature a reticent person, and she resigned herself to that fact long ago>
- … his friends and associates are conspicuously reticent to discuss him in public. —Martin Flanagan, Manchester Guardian Weekly, 29 Dec. 1991
- … two or three rather reticent abstract paintings. —Jay Jacobs, Gourmet, January 1979
- An extremely reticent man, Morris does not like to talk about his experience in personal terms. —Helen Dudar, New York Times Magazine, 30 Oct. 1977
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Origin of RETICENT
Latin reticent-, reticens, present participle of reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent — more at tacit
First Known Use: circa 1834
Related to RETICENT
- Synonyms
- close, closemouthed, dark, secretive, tight-mouthed, uncommunicative
- Antonyms
- communicative, open
See Synonym Discussion at silent
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