reticent

[ ret-uh-suhnt ]
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adjective
  1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.

  2. reluctant or restrained.

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Origin of reticent

1
First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin reticent- (stem of reticēns ), present participle of reticēre “to be silent,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + -tic-, combining form of tacēre “to be silent” (cf. tacit) + -ent- adjective suffix; see re-, -ent

Other words for reticent

Opposites for reticent

Other words from reticent

  • ret·i·cence, ret·i·cen·cy, noun
  • ret·i·cent·ly, adverb
  • non·ret·i·cent, adjective
  • non·ret·i·cent·ly, adverb
  • un·ret·i·cent, adjective
  • un·ret·i·cent·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with reticent

Words Nearby reticent

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How to use reticent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reticent

reticent

/ (ˈrɛtɪsənt) /


adjective
  1. not open or communicative; not saying all that one knows; taciturn; reserved

Origin of reticent

1
C19: from Latin reticēre to keep silent, from re- + tacēre to be silent

Derived forms of reticent

  • reticence, noun
  • reticently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012