| 词组 | discreet, discrete |
| 释义 | discreet, discrete A number of usage books define discreet as "prudent," "judicious," "tactful," or "circumspect" and discrete as "separate" or "distinct," with the implication that these are two completely different words which should not be confused. However, the history and spelling of discreet and discrete are more closely intertwined than is commonly realized. Discreet came into Middle English from Middle Latin discretus (the past participle of Latin discernere, "to separate, distinguish between") via Middle French discret. According to the OED, our English word discrete came into Middle English as a translation of this same Latin discretus in 1398 "but apparently] was not in general use till late in 16th c[entury]." In its early life discrete was sometimes spelled discreet, but only rarely. Discreet, on the other hand, used to have the spelling discrete as a common variant: • ... discrete was the prevalent spelling in all senses until late in the 16th c, when on the analogy of native or early-adopted words in ee from ME. close ê (as feet, sweet, beet), the spelling discreet (occasional from 1400) became established in the popular sense, leaving discrete for the scholastic and technical sense in which the kinship to L. discretus is more obvious —OED Since the first half of the 17th century, the two spellings have been perceived as separate words with separate meanings. In that time, confused spellings have undoubtedly occurred (hence the interest shown by usage book writers). The words are, after all, homophones and can be confused by simply transposing two adjacent letters. In spite of misspellings the separate identities of the two words have been firmly established. But are they irrevocably established? Although there is no way to tell whether a particular misspelling is merely a typographical error or whether it originated with the author, the "misspelled" forms of discreet and discrete seem to be appearing more frequently in reputable publications lately. We wonder if a reversion to the days of dual spellings for both words is in the offing. Here are some recent citations: • He is conservatively dressed so discrete is he that there is almost nothing to mark him physically —N.Y. Times Mag., 27 Apr. 1980 • ... discretely silent —Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 1980 • He looks smooth and discrete, like a mortician — Boston Globe Mag., 23 Nov. 1980 • ... allowing more than a discrete amount of sentiment to filter into my work —Southwest Art, September 1984 • ... tries to count the uncountable (i.e., cultures, which ... are not discreet units) —American Anthropologist, September 1976 • ... breaking up the desired educational task into discreet parts —College English, September 1977 • ... it is now freed from the limitations of space and polemical purpose which accompanied the original publication. In this extended setting, Professor Raphael is able to provide a discreet analysis of Hobbes on causation —Times Literary Supp., 3 Nov. 1978 • The upper notes are distinct and discreet —Science 80, May/June 1980 • But behind the tangle of Taylors are five discreet performers with a wealth of idiosyncracies —People, 22 July 1985 Examples like these, while surprisingly numerous, are by no means usual. The separate identities of the two words remain standard for now. |
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