discreetly, adv.
(dɪˈskriːtlɪ)
[f. discreet + -ly2.]
In a discreet manner; with discretion; prudently; with self-regarding prudence.
| c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 25 Wysely and discretely thei departed hir levynge in two. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 170 Crist askes two þinges of þin almes, þat þou do it in hys name, and also discretly. 1494 Fabyan Chron. i. vi. 12 Hauynge possession of the sayd Ile, Wele and discretly she ruled it. 1526–34 Tindale Mark xii. 34 Iesus sawe that he answered discretly. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. i. 247 Vse your manners discreetly in all kinds of companies. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 201 Flowers of that class should be discreetly prun'd, where they mat too thick. 1775 Johnson Tax. no Tyr. 79, I could wish it more discreetly uttered. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 7 He never counted truth a treasure to be discreetly hidden in a napkin. 1891 E. Peacock N. Brendon I. 32 Ellen remained discreetly silent. |