indiscreet, a.
(ɪndɪˈskriːt)
Forms: 5 indys-, 5–7 indiscrete, 6 Sc. -creit, (7 -creete), 6– -creet.
[prob. a. F. indiscret, -crète (though this is cited only of 16th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) = It., Sp. indiscreto; or directly ad. L. indiscrētus, in a late or med.L. sense: see note to discreet a. The direct repr. of the L. word in its classical sense is indiscrete.]
Not discreet, without discretion.
† 1. Without discernment or sound judgement. Obs.
| 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iii. viii. 55 So haue they ben forfaren with indiscrete sorowe, as was cursyd Cayn the fyrst borne child. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 319 Indiscrete men supposede hym to haue the wynde in his gouernaile and powere. c 1450 Myrc 825 Leste indyscrete hys prest were Hys confessyone for to here. c 1611 Chapman Iliad. ii. (1884) 36 O Priam! thou art always pleased with indiscreet advice. 1617 Cornwallyes Ess., Praise Rich. III (ed. 2) C iij, The partiall writings of indiscreet chroniclers. 1675 Boyle Reconcil. Reason & Relig. i. i. Wks. 1772 IV. 158 There are others, who, out of an indiscrete devotion, are so solicitous to increase the number and the wonderfulness of mysteries. |
2. Injudicious or imprudent in speech or action; inconsiderate; unadvised, unwary.
| 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. ii. 31 It would ill become me to be vaine, indiscreet, or a foole. 1656 Nicholas Papers III. 280 That it may bee knowen where to lay the blame of so indiscreete, if not malicious, a reporte. 1661 Baxter Mor. Prognost. i. ¶84. 17 The younger, and indiscreeter passionate sort. a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 369 The indiscreetest and wildest creature that ever was in a court. 1742 Jarvis Quix. ii. lxxii, By his indiscreet zeal the object would be lost. 1857 Ruskin Pol. Econ. Art i. (1868) 35 You may do much harm by indiscreet praise and by indiscreet blame. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iii, The younger sister had been indiscreet..in her marriages. |
3. Sc. Uncivil, impolite.
| 1727 P. Walker Life Peden To Rdr. (1728) 4 Others..gave me indiscreet, upbraiding Language, calling me a vile old Apostate. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inher. (1882) I. 225, ‘I think I never saw so ill-bred a man’. ‘I can't just say that, Bell’, said her mother, ‘I'm sure he was nowise indiscreet’. |
Hence indiˈscreetness, the quality of being indiscreet, indiscretion.
| 1658 A Fox Wurtz' Surg. i. iii. 11 Through this rashness and indiscreetness most dangerous and worst symptoms are caused. 1852 Dickens Bleak Ho. liv, I'm surprised at the indiscreetness you commit. |