Sekirov Dictionary

reticence

UK /ˈɹɛtɪs(ə)ns/US /ˈɹɛtəs(ə)ns/

noun 5
verb 1
forms 3

noun5

•
Avoidance of saying or reluctance to say too much; discretion, tight-lippedness; (countable) an instance of acting in this manner.
- The painter's absurd fits of jealousy, his wild devotion, his extravagant panegyrics, his curious reticences—he understood them all now, and he felt sorry. — 1891
A silent and reserved nature.
•
(nonstandard) Often followed by to: hesitancy or reluctance (to do something).
- Any reticence or wariness I felt for the Professor vanished the moment I saw him with my son, and from that point on I trusted him completely. — 2009
Followed by of: discretion or restraint in the use of something.
(rhetoric, no longer used) Synonym of aposiopesis (“an abrupt breaking-off in speech”).

verb1

(rare) To deliberately not listen or pay attention to; to disregard, to ignore.

forms

reticenced · reticencing · reticences

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