Editly Etymology: discreet vs. discrete

The experts at Editly have become masters of commonly confused words over the course of their careers as editors, proofreaders, and AI humanizers. In Editly Etymology, they draw on their experience to offer a closer look into the horrifying beauty of the English language. This installment investigates an understandably confused and easily mistyped pair of words: discreet vs discrete.  

Discreet Definition

Discreet is an adjective that means careful in one's speech or actions.

Discrete Definition

Discrete is an adjective that means separate or detached.

Did you catch that? Just to make sure, let’s ask AI to help us generate a visual representation of each of the words.

Discreet = careful. 

Discrete = separate.

Discreet Root

Middle English, from Old French, from Latin.

Discrete Root

Late Middle English, from Latin.

Who is to Blame for this Confusion?

This case is about as clear-cut as it possibly gets, as both words are derived from the same Latin word, “discretus.” Verdict: the Latins are even guiltier than usual.

AI Text on Discreet

The word "discreet" has an interesting history that traces back to Latin through French, and it carries a nuanced development in meaning over time. Here's a closer look at its etymology:

1. Latin Roots: "Discreet" originates from the Latin word "discretus," which is the past participle of "discernere," meaning to separate, distinguish, or discern. The root "dis-" implies apart, and "cernere" means to sift or distinguish. Thus, "discretus" essentially referred to something that had been separated or distinguished.
2. Old French Influence: The term was adapted into Old French as "discret," which maintained a similar meaning, referring to someone or something showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech.
3. Entry into English: "Discreet" entered the English language in the late Middle Ages. Its meaning closely mirrored the Old French and Latin, emphasizing wisdom, circumspection, and the ability to avoid causing offense or to not attract undue attention.
4. Evolution of Meaning: Over the centuries, "discreet" in English has continued to emphasize prudence and tact in behavior. It often refers to being careful about what one says or does, maintaining confidentiality, and generally avoiding actions or statements that could lead to embarrassment or exposure.
5. Modern Usage: Today, "discreet" retains these meanings, often being used to describe actions that are subtly executed to avoid drawing attention, maintaining a low profile, or protecting privacy. It's frequently applied in contexts where discretion is of high importance, such as in diplomatic, personal, or business situations.

The word "discreet" is a good example of how a term can maintain its core semantic properties derived from ancient languages while adapting to cultural and contextual needs over time. This reflects a broader pattern in English where vocabulary evolves in meaning and usage while holding onto its etymological roots. (295 words)

Humanization of AI Text on Discreet

"Discreet" has an interesting history that traces back to Latin through French, bearing a nuanced development in meaning over time.

1. Latin Roots: "Discreet" originates from the Latin word "discretus," the past participle of "discernere," meaning to separate, distinguish, or discern. The root "dis-" implies apart, and "cernere" means to sift or distinguish. Thus, "discretus" essentially referred to something that had been separated or distinguished.
2. Old French Influence: Adapted into Old French as "discret," it referred to someone or something showing discernment or good judgment.
3. Entry into English: Entering the English language in the late Middle Ages, it maintained this meaning.
4. Evolution of Meaning: "Discreet" has continued to emphasize prudence and tact in behavior. It often refers to being careful about what one says or does, maintaining confidentiality, and generally avoiding actions or statements that could lead to embarrassment or exposure.
5. Modern Usage: "Discreet" retains these exact meanings today.

“Discreet" exemplifies how a term can maintain its core semantic properties derived from ancient languages, while adapting to cultural and contextual needs over time. (177 words)

Result of Changing the AI Text to Human Text 

Humanization has enhanced the readability and clarity of the original AI text, primarily by targeting unnecessary repetition of concepts. In fact, humanization has reduced the word count from 295 words all the way down to 177 words—or by 40%—without losing any of the text’s core meaning.

AI Text on Discrete 

The word "discrete" has its own distinct history and etymology, separate from the similar-sounding "discreet," despite their common origins and occasional confusion in modern usage. Here’s how "discrete" developed:

1. Latin Origins: "Discrete" comes from the Latin word "discretus," which is the past participle of "discernere," meaning to separate or distinguish. The Latin roots here are "dis-" (apart) and "cernere" (to sift, separate, or distinguish), indicating the concept of being individually separate.
2. Middle French Influence: The term entered Middle English from Middle French as "discret," which also meant separate or distinct. The meaning in French mirrored the original Latin, focusing on the idea of separation into distinct parts.
3. Evolution in English: In English, "discrete" evolved to emphasize separateness or distinctness in various contexts, especially in mathematical and scientific discourse. It was used to describe entities that are individually separate and distinct from one another, as opposed to being continuously variable or interconnected.
4. Modern Usage: Today, "discrete" is predominantly used in mathematics and computing to refer to distinct, separate elements or values that are not continuous. For example, discrete variables are those that have specific and separate values, distinguishable from each other. In general language, it is used to describe anything that is clearly distinct and separate.
5. Differentiation from "Discreet": While "discrete" focuses on the concept of separateness, "discreet" emphasizes prudence or subtlety in behavior. Though they stem from the same Latin root, their meanings have diverged significantly in modern English.

The history of "discrete" showcases how a word can develop specialized meanings in technical fields while retaining its core etymological sense of separateness, illustrating the dynamic adaptability of language to meet specific descriptive needs. (278 words) 

Humanization of AI Text on Discrete

"Discrete" has its own distinct history and etymology, separate from the "discreet," despite their common origins.

1. Latin Origins: "Discrete" comes from the Latin word "discretus," the past participle of "discernere," meaning to separate or distinguish. The Latin roots here are "dis-" (apart) and "cernere" (to sift, separate, or distinguish), indicating the concept of being individually separate.
2. Middle French Influence: The Middle French means separate or distinct, mirroring the original Latin idea of separation into distinct parts.
3. Evolution in English: In English, "discrete" evolved to emphasize separateness or distinctness in various contexts, especially in mathematical and scientific discourse.
4. Modern Usage: "Discrete" is predominantly used in mathematics and computing to refer to distinct, separate elements or values that are not continuous. For example, discrete variables are those that have specific and separate values, distinguishable from each other.
5. Differentiation from "Discreet": While "discrete" focuses on the concept of separateness, "discreet" emphasizes prudence or subtlety in behavior.

The history of "discrete" showcases how a word can develop specialized meanings in technical fields, while retaining its core etymological sense of separateness. (182 words) 

Effect of Humanizing the AI Text

Humanization has optimized the AI text, making it more concise through better diction and the elimination of repetition. In fact, humanization has reduced the word count from 278 words to 182 words—or by more than 34 percent.

The Takeaway

Whether it’s for discreet or discrete, the best AI humanizer does, in fact, turn out to be a human. So, if you need any help to humanize your AI text, don’t wait to get started on Editly.