reticence etymology

Etymology:

  • From Latin "reticere" meaning "to keep silent, to be silent about"
  • Derived from the prefix "re-" meaning "back" or "again" and the root "tacere" meaning "to be silent"

Meaning:

  • Reluctance to speak or express oneself freely
  • Habitual reserve or cautiousness in speaking or acting
  • An unwillingness to reveal or discuss something, especially due to fear or caution

Origin:

The word "reticence" first appeared in English in the 16th century. It was initially used to describe a person who was shy or reserved. Over time, the meaning has evolved to encompass a wider range of behaviors and attitudes associated with holding back or suppressing one's thoughts or feelings.

Historical Usage:

  • In the 17th century, "reticence" was often used to describe the behavior of women, who were expected to be modest and demure.
  • In the 18th century, the term began to be applied more broadly to both men and women who exhibited a reluctance to speak or act openly.
  • In the 19th century, "reticence" became associated with the Romantic era's emphasis on introspective and subjective experiences.

Today, "reticence" remains a commonly used word to describe individuals who are cautious in their speech or actions, or who choose to keep their thoughts and feelings private.

reticence relate terms

  • tacit

    Etymology From Latin tacitus meaning silent unspoken implied Meaning Tacit re

  • redact

    Etymology Late Latin redactus past participle of redigere to bring back restore re

  • redeem

    Etymology The word redeem comes from the Latin word redimere which means to buy bac

  • redolent

    Etymology Latin redolēns fragrant Present participle of the verb redolēre to g

  • redundant

    Etymology Redundant comes from the Latin word redundare which means to overflow or

  • redintegrate

    Etymology Latin redintegrare Prefix re again anew Root integrare to make

  • render

    Etymology Old French rendre Late Latin reddere Proto Indo European red Meaning

  • rally

    Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

  • receive

    Etymology The word receive comes from the Middle English word receiven which itself

  • recommend

    Recommend Etymology From the Old French recommander to commend recommend itself f

  • reduce

    Etymology Latin reducere from re back ducere to lead Middle French reduir

  • recreate

    Etymology Etymology is derived from the Greek words etymon ἔτυμον true sen

  • refer

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

  • religion

    Etymology The word religion is derived from the Latin word religio which means rev

  • remain

    Etymology The word remain is derived from the Old French word remeindre modern Frenc

  • request

    Etymology The word request comes from the Middle English word requeste which in tu

  • require

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the ways in which their meanings have ch

  • recovery

    Etymology of Recovery The word recovery originates from the Old French term recover

  • rebel

    Etymology The word rebel derives from the Latin verb rebellāre meaning to rise ag

  • relic

    Etymology Middle English relike Old French relique Latin reliquia a thing left beh

  • remnant

    Etymology The word remnant is derived from the late Middle English word remenant wh

  • restive

    Etymology The word restive comes from the Latin word restare meaning to stand still

  • rest

    Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

  • rally

    Etymology The word rally comes from the Old French word rallier which means to gath

  • ransom

    Etymology Middle English raunson from Anglo Norman French raençon from Late Latin r

  • redemption

    Etymology Redemption derives from the Latin word redemptio which means a buying back

  • rampart

    Etymology and Meaning The word rampart comes from the Middle English term rampart w

  • rebuild

    Etymology The word rebuild is derived from the Old English words re meaning again

  • refill

    Etymology The word refill is derived from the French word refiller meaning to fill

  • reset

    Etymology The word reset has its roots in the Middle English word resetten which mea

  • rewrite

    Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It traces the develo

  • regret

    Etymology Old French regretter Late Latin regretari meaning to murmur complain Po

  • regard

    Etymology The word regard comes from the Middle French word regarder which means t

  • reward

    Etymology Middle English rewarde from Anglo French rewarde reward from Old French r

  • frank

    Etymology The name Frank originates from the Frankish word franc which means free

  • reverse

    Reverse etymology is the process of creating a new word by reversing the order of the syll

  • badminton

    Etymology The term badminton is believed to have originated from the name of a country

  • compensate

    Etymology Middle English compensaten from Latin compensare to weigh out together bal

  • orange

    Etymology Late Middle English as an adjective from Old French orenge from orenge f

  • patriot

    Etymology The word patriot derives from the Latin word pater which means father

  • politics

    Etymology The word politics derives from the Ancient Greek term πολιτικά pol

  • fork

    Etymology Old English forc Middle English forke Proto Germanic furkô Proto Indo

  • fiction

    Etymology The word fiction derives from the Latin word fictio which means somethin