reticent

reticent
reticence, reticency, n.reticently, adv.
/ret"euh seuhnt/, adj.
1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
2. reluctant or restrained.
[1825-35; < L reticent- (s. of reticens), prp. of reticere to be silent, equiv. to re- RE- + -tic-, comb. form of tacere to be silent (cf. TACIT) + -ent- -ENT]
Syn. 1. taciturn, quiet, uncommunicative.
Ant. 1. talkative, voluble.

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  • réticent — réticent, ente [ retisɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1845; de réticence 1 ♦ Vieilli Qui comporte des réticences (1o). Des phrases atténuées et réticentes. Qui ne dit pas tout ce qu il devrait. ⇒ 1. discret, silencieux. « Je me suis trouvé à l aise [...] disant …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • reticent — RETICÉNT, Ă, reticenţi, te, adj. (Despre oameni şi despre cuvintele lor) Care manifestă sau care arată reticenţă, reţinere. – Din fr. réticent. Trimis de LauraGellner, 08.07.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  RETICÉNT adj. v. reţinut. Trimis de siveco,… …   Dicționar Român

  • reticent — is developing the meaning ‘reluctant to act’, which is somewhat more developed than its standard meaning ‘reserved, reluctant to speak’: • At first, I was reticent about doing nudity film website, AmE 2003. This meaning has become so well… …   Modern English usage

  • Reticent — Ret i*cent, a. [L. reticens, p. pr. of reticere to keep silence; re + tacere to be silent. See {Tacit}.] Inclined to keep silent; reserved; uncommunicative. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reticent — I adjective cautious, concise, confidential, constrained, detached, distant, evasive, guarded, laconic, mute, noncommittal, recondite, remote, reserved, restrained, retiring, secretive, sparing of words, standoffish, succinct, taciturn,… …   Law dictionary

  • reticent — (adj.) 1834, from L. reticentem, prp. of reticere (see RETICENCE (Cf. reticence)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • reticent — *silent, reserved, uncommunicative, taciturn, secretive, close, close lipped, closemouthed, tight lipped Analogous words: restrained, inhibited, curbed, checked (see RESTRAIN): discreet, prudent (see under PRUDENCE) Antonyms: frank Contrasted… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • reticent — [adj] secretive, quiet bashful, clammed up*, close, close mouthed, dried up*, dummied up*, hesitant, mum, reserved, restrained, shy, silent, taciturn, tight lipped, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, unspeaking, uptight*; concepts 267,401 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • reticent — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ not revealing one s thoughts or feelings readily. DERIVATIVES reticence noun reticently adverb. ORIGIN from Latin reticere remain silent …   English terms dictionary

  • reticent — [ret′əsənt] adj. [L reticens, prp. of reticere, to be silent < re , again + tacere, to be silent: see TACIT] 1. habitually silent or uncommunicative; disinclined to speak readily; reserved; taciturn 2. having a restrained, quiet, or… …   English World dictionary

  • reticent — [[t]re̱tɪsənt[/t]] ADJ GRADED: oft ADJ about/on n Someone who is reticent does not tell people about things. She is so reticent about her achievements... Mrs. Smith, normally a reticent woman, took it upon herself to write to the President. Syn:… …   English dictionary

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