† undiscreetadj.
Obsolete.
= indiscreet adj. (Common c1400–1650.)absolute.1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxvii. 12 Yf thou be amonge the vndiscrete.1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres i. l. sig. Dv This publique course..compassion drawes, Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat.
a. Of persons.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxxi. 23 Waking, and colere, and anguysh to an vndiscreet man.
c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 116 He þat hauys a greet wombe, ys vndiscreet, foltysch, proud.
1482 Monk of Evesham 97 He was lyght of behauyng and ondyscrete as in eatyng and drynkyng.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 3rd Serm. sig. Eviiv We are noted to be rassh, and vndiscrete in our preachynge.
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft xiv. viii. 374 Into what follie and madnes vaine hope may driue vndiscreete and vnexpert men.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads 308 What need we, like two women in the street,..to rail and scoff? Who, say they true or false, are undiscreet.
a1704 T. Brown Lett. to Gentlemen & Ladies in 3rd Vol. Wks. (1708) ii. 116 My Despair proceeded not from the same Motive, as that of the undiscreet Lucretia.
b. Of actions, conduct, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > carelessness > incautiousness > [adjective] > imprudent
undiscreetc1340
unadviseda1382
unprudenta1382
imprudentc1386
unredya1387
loose1390
misadvisedc1390
unavisyc1420
unvertyc1485
liberala1500
unprovident1565
unconsultinga1586
ill-adviseda1593
unforeseeing1602
injudicial1607
unvised1609
improvidenta1616
indiscreeta1616
disadvised?a1648
unprudential1650
injudicious1710
unadvising1719
unprovidential1837
c1340 R. Rolle Prose Treat. 17 He..by vndiscrete trauellynge turnes þe braynes in his heuede.
1420–2 J. Lydgate Story of Thebes iii. 3114 Thorgh vndiscret and hasty gredynesse.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 99 Be-cause of þin vndyscret dyspysing it doth hym vnworschip.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes iv, in Wks. 276/2 Some of them may haue som time either ouer feruent mynd or vndiscrete zele.
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 52v By which their vndiscreete dealing, they are lyke these sicke men whiche reiect the..cunning Phisition.
1640 T. Fuller Joseph's Coat 182 The flames of ill tempered, and undiscreet zeale.
1685 tr. B. Gracián y Morales Courtiers Oracle 50 Blind passion, undiscreet engagement, imprudent haste, fool-hardiness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.c1340