discretionn.
/dᵻˈskrɛʃn/, U.S. /dᵻˈskrɛʃən/ I. Senses relating to judgement or decision.† 2. The faculty of discerning; discernment. Obsolete.† 3. The action of discerning or judging; judgement; decision, discrimination; an instance of this. In later use only as passing into sense 1. See also Phrases 2a. Obsolete.
1.
a. Law. The power of a court, tribunal, government minister, or other authority to decide the application of a law (such as the extent of a criminal punishment, the nature or extent of a civil remedy, or the administrative details of a statutory scheme), subject to any expressed or implied limits. Also as a count noun.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal power > [noun] > right of dealing with matters judicially > power to decide penalty or remedy
discretiona1325
a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vi. 25 Istablist is þat he ȝelde to þe plaintif þe damages of þe iornee of tuuenti sillinges, oþer of more oþer of lasse, after þe discrecion of iustises.
1411 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 93 No manere man ne child..be so hardy to wrestell..within the seintuary ne the boundes of Poules..vp peyne of emprisonement of fourty dayes, & makyng fyn..after the discrecioun of the Mair & Aldermen.
c1523 J. Rastell Expos. Terminorum Legum Anglorum sig. Dv He shall lose xx. s. for the iourney or more by the discression of the iustice.
1567 R. Mulcaster tr. J. Fortescue Learned Commendation Lawes Eng. xxxvi. f. 84 Howbe it the kinge, thoughe ye owners woulde saye nay maye by his officers take necessaries for his house at a reasonable price to be assessed by the discrecions of the constables of the towns.
1629 Vse of Law 27 in J. Doddridge Lawyers Light The Iudges may set a fine vpon him at their pleasure and discretions.
1738 Brief Narr. Case & Tryal J. P. Zenger 24 The Punishment is arbitrary, that is, according as the Judges in their Discretion shall direct to be inflicted.
1890 Law Times Rep. 63 734/2 The judge..should not treat it as a matter within his discretion whether he will order the witness to answer or not.
1891 Law Rep.: Weekly Notes 18 Apr. 72/2 That the costs of references..should be in the discretion of the arbitrators.
1986 A. S. Matthews Freedom, State Security, & Rule of Law viii. 130 The courts will not investigate the exercise of the minister's discretion to determine whether it is factually connected to one of the specified grounds.
2012 Guardian Unlimited (Nexis) 19 Apr. The Strasbourg judges had the discretion to decide whether or not to accept late appeals.
b. Freedom to decide or act according to one's own will or judgement; spec. (in military contexts) . Frequently in to leave to a person's discretion, to use one's discretion. Cf. Phrases 2a(b), Phrases 2b(b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > [noun] > uncontrolled exercise of
arbitrationc1386
discretion1399
arbitramentc1400
arbitrariness1643
arbitrariousness1808
1399 Rolls of Parl.: Henry IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1399 Pleas §10. m. 2 Mercy and grace of the kyng os it longes to hym..in his owene discrecioun.
1432 in Paston Lett. (1904) II. 35 Where he shal have eny persone in his discrecion suspect of mysgovernance.
1547 C. Langton Very Brefe Treat. Phisick ii. iii. sig. E.viiiv The disease may be suche, & the pacientes strength so weake, yt it shall be nedefull to fede them, both in their fittes, & out of theyr fittes: howbeit I leaue that to the discretion of the Phisition.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. iii. f. 34 Nor to put himselfe to the discretion of his seruantes, for the ordering of his house.
1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely iii. 73 If Transilvania were left to the Discretion of the Turks [etc.].
1724 J. Swift Let. to Mr. Harding 12 He leaves it to our Discretion.
1780 E. Burke Speech Oeconomical Reformation 81 If a discretion, wholly arbitrary, can be exercised over the civil list revenue..the plan of reformation will still be left very imperfect.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art I. 386 This practice..leaves to the discretion of the workman, the determination of the very matter in which he is most apt to err.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. ii. 185 As to the form of worship, a large discretion was left to the clergy.
1849 Punch 16 42/1 In employing counsel you must use your discretion; but counsel, in being employed by you, must use his discretion also.
1874 J. Morley On Compromise 140 We may all write what we please, because it is in the discretion of the rest of the world whether they will harken or not.
1916 G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans iii. 126 Those lyrics which, in some modern plays, are left to the discretion of the actor or the reader to put in or leave out.
1965 J. M. Moore MS Trad. Polybius iv. 70 The scribe of D3 used his discretion in adopting readings.
2012 Independent (Freetown, Sierra Leone) (Nexis) 17 Mar. Most important decisions are left to the discretion of the minister to whom almost all key players in the sector are answerable.
c. In military contexts: the power conceded to a person, nation, etc., by the unconditional surrender of an enemy. Chiefly in at (also †after, †upon) the discretion of a person at Phrases 2a, at (also †on, †to, †upon) discretion at Phrases 2b. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. lxxxv All the garrison yelded them symply to his mercy and discrecion.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 151 [This] gave occasion to such as remained to yeeld themselves to the enemies discretion.
2011 S. Dmitriev Greek Slogan of Freedom & Early Rom. Politics in Greece vii. 268 Surrendering in fidem meant surrendering to Roman discretion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > faculty of
shedc1000
discretionc1384
tastea1400
discernment1570
distinction1609
distinguishment1642
discrimination1764
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xii. 10 To anothir..is ȝouun..discrescioun [L. discretio], or verrey knowynge, of spiritis.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxxii. 308 (MED) Now schal I tellen the my Resoun As Cometh to myn ȝonge discressioun, For I nam but ȝong, and litel of wyt.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. OOvi The gyfte..called discrecion, or discernyng of spirytes, is but in fewe persons.
1563 J. Davidson Answer to Tractiue Kennedy in D. Laing Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844) I. 253 Discretione betwix the rycht understanding of thaim fra the wrang.
1632 H. Hawkins tr. G. P. Maffei Fuga Sæculi 115 Among the vertues of this holy man..one was so acute a discretion of spirits, as in the twinckling of an eye, he would know their inclinations and motions.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. viii. 33 The Discretion of times, places, and persons, necessary to a good Fancy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > [noun]
doomc950
redeOE
lookingc1300
assizec1314
judging1357
definitionc1384
man's dayc1384
termination1395
discretiona1400
discussiona1425
decidingc1443
judicial1447
decisionc1454
arbitry1489
determinationa1513
determining1530
decerninga1535
discuss1556
discussment1559
thought1579
decernment1586
arbitrage1601
dijudication1615
crisis1623
decidementa1640
determinatinga1640
discernment1646
syndication1650
judication1651
dijudicatinga1656
adjudicature1783
call1902
a1400 tr. Lanfranc Sci. Cirurgie (Ashm.) (1894) 283 (MED) Sumtyme a man mai not ȝeue a discrecioun of blood [L. discernere sanguinem] fro vrine, for a litil blood colourid miche vrine.
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii. pr. x. l. 2594 Take now þus þe discressioun [?c1425 Cambr. descression; L. discretionem] of þis questioun quod she.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 16 By the discrecion of my executours.
c1500 (a1475) J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Claud.) (1885) 157 Considryng that they lak it by the discrecioun of þe kynges counseil.
1548 Order of Communion sig. C.ii, (note) Two peces, at the least, or more, by the discrecion of the ministre.
1568 Mary Queen of Scots in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. II. 253 Y refer all to your discretion.
1685 T. Creech tr. Plutarch Symposiacks ii, in M. Morgan et al. tr. Plutarch Morals III. viii. 338 There is a fair discretion of good and bad, every one having what is fit for him, not by lot or weight, but according as he is vertuous or vicious.
1736 tr. Ignatius of Loyola Spiritual Exercises 78 (heading) Rules, that help towards a more thorough discretion of spirits.
1842 C. Whitehead Richard Savage I. viii. 192 She put it to Myte's discretion whether he would continue to harbour a young knave.
II. Senses relating to discreet adj.† 5. With possessive adjective: a respectful form of address to a person in authority, esp. within the church. Cf. discreet n. Obsolete.Early uses may simply show use in sense 4a in a formulaic context.† 6. A company of priests. Cf. discreetness n. 1. Obsolete. rare.One of many alleged group names found in late Middle English glossarial sources, but not otherwise substantiated.† 7. Scottish. Courtesy, politeness; propriety of behaviour; civility. Cf. discreet adj. 2. Obsolete.
4.
a. The quality of being discreet; the possession or demonstration of sound judgement in speech or action; prudence; tactfulness, trustworthiness.Frequently personified in early use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > wisdom, sagacity > prudence, discretion > [noun]
redeOE
counsel1297
discretion1340
prudence1340
redinessc1425
prudencya1456
discreetness1530
canniness1638
judiciousness1644
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [noun] > prudence
warshipc888
discretion1340
prudence1340
vesynessc1425
advisivenessa1450
prudencya1456
vertynessc1485
discreetness1530
take-heed1596
canniness1638
prudentiality1646
considerateness1651
prudentialness1659
prudentnessc1661
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 155 Hit be-houeþ hyealde riȝtuolnesse and discrecion.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 2116 (MED) It sit wel every king to have Discrecion, whan men him crave, So that he mai his yifte wite.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 10161 Dyscrecyun, a ryȝt wyt ys, On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges.
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 1821 (MED) Wher was þi guyde, wher was þi maistres, Discrecioun, so prudent and so sad, Avisely þat schulde þe haue lad From þe tracis of sensualite?
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 4 Thou art not yet pourueyed of discrecion for to gouerne thy Royaume.
?1504 S. Hawes Example of Vertu sig. aa.viv Dame dyscrecyon I dyd than grete.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcviiv Eche of them, shal as farfurth as their connynges and discrecions suffisen, truly..aduise the kyng.
1597 F. Bacon Ess. f. 3 Discretion of Speech is more than eloquence.
1622 W. Gouge Of Domesticall Duties iv. 384 To be the more watchfull ouer himselfe, that he containe himselfe within the bounds of discretion and moderation.
1682 tr. W. Glanius Relation Voy. Bengala 149 This King..derided his discretion.
1723 G. Roussillon tr. C. R. de Caumont de la Force Secret Hist. Burgundy i. 218 One of her Maids, whose Discretion nothing can exceed.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. xl. 33 The appearance of the king [was not] so magnificent as to render such an honour intoxicating to any person of our hero's coolness and discretion.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility I. xiii. 160 Do you not now begin to doubt the discretion of your own conduct? View more context for this quotation
1849 J. Ruskin Seven Lamps Archit. iv. 110 That portion of temper and discretion which are necessary to the contemplation of beauty.
1890 Murray's Mag. Jan. 19 The beautiful Mrs. Brett was commended for her discretion.
1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 73 A single word showed you, sir, that your secret was discovered, and if I wrote rather than said it, it was to prove to you that my discretion was to be trusted.
1961 Life 28 July 58/2 The successful operation..would require discretion, indirection, delicacy and tact.
2011 P. Norlen tr. ‘T. Davys’ Tourquai 284 What built his reputation as a private detective was his ability to show discretion—to the border of disinterest.
b. The age at which a person is presumed to be capable of exercising sound judgement in speech and action; the state of being of such an age. Cf. age of discretion at Phrases 1a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > adult > [noun] > adulthood or maturity > legal maturity
agec1275
elda1300
age of discretion1395
years of discretiona1402
discretionc1485
lawful years1548
age of consent1809
the age of reason1884
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 215 Sen thai ar of perfyte elde, and of discrecioun.
?1542 H. Brinkelow Complaynt Roderyck Mors v. sig. B6v The partyes neuer fauor the one the other, after thei come to discrecyon.
1641 Office & Dutie Executors xvii. 94 He is not to be in ward at all, for that the law judgeth him to be of discretion at those years.
1749 Conductor Generalis (ed. 2) 407 One under 14 Years old, such are, as our Law says, not arrived at Discretion.
1863 Home & Foreign Rev. Oct. 642 What will our children think of our teaching when they come to discretion, if they find that it is only ours?
1911 Eccles. Rev. 44 227 Confirmation,..administered to the young often simultaneously with the Sacrament of Baptism or at the very beginning of a child's attaining discretion.
1978 Mediaeval Stud. 40 411 When children had been given in marriage, nothing was effected until both, having come to discretion, gave their consent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > respectful address
discretion1421
honorific1778
taubada1891
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > [noun]
bishopc897
patriarcheOE
bispa1300
ordinarya1325
ordinar?1403
father1418
discretion1421
pontificalc1440
diocesanc1450
rocheter1559
monseigneur1561
pope1563
bite-sheep1570
presul1577
rochet1581
diocesser1606
lawn sleevesc1640
episcopant1641
Right Reverend1681
diocesian1686
lawn-man1795
diocesiarch1805
bish1875
shire-bishop1880
1413 in F. A. Page-Turner Bedfordshire Wills (1914) 18 (MED) I truste hiȝliche in ȝowr lordschippes truwthes and discrecions.]
1421 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 86 (MED) The which I remete unto ȝowr hygh discretion.
1428 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 10 If it lyke vn to youre wirshipfull and wyse discrecion.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. f. cclxxxviiiv/1 Right dear and puissaunt lordes, to your right noble discressyons, please it you to knowe, that we haue receyued right amiably, the letters to vs sent.
1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church 315 Your discretions I know no man so foolish that wil trust.
c1600 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 61 I pray ȝour discretionis quyetlie to heir me.
1607 E. Sharpham Fleire i. sig. B4v Lord Gentlemen how your wits Caper! me thinkes twould become you well at first entrance, your discretions came in with a sober measure.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > priest > [noun] > priests collectively
clergyc1275
priesthoodc1384
discreetnessa1450
discretion1486
sacerdosa1592
priestery1650
sacerdotage1860
1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. fvii A Discrecion of Prestis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun]
manshipOE
metheOE
courtesy?c1225
debonairty?c1225
gentrice?c1225
debonairshipa1240
hendlaika1250
fairnessc1275
hendiness?a1300
hendshipc1300
meeknessc1300
bonairty1303
bonairnessc1375
debonairness1382
humanityc1384
menskinga1400
hendnessc1400
comity1542
civilness1556
civility1561
courtshipa1640
discretion1752
1752 D. Hume List of Scotticisms 3 in Polit. Disc. Discretion, civility.
1782 J. Sinclair Observ. Sc. Dial. ii. 100 He is a very discreet (civil) man, it is true, but his brother has more discretion (civility).
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Discretion, propriety of female conduct, as opposed to lightness of coquetry.
1855 Scotticisms Corrected 7 He showed me great discretion: say, civility.
III. Senses relating to separation. Cf. discrete adj., discrete v.
8. The action of separating or distinguishing; the condition of being separate or distinguished; separation, disjunction, distinction.Apparently not recorded in 18th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > difference > [noun] > differentiation or distinguishing
discretiona1398
specification1615
discrepation1616
differentiation1855
differentiation1857
distinctificationa1866
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > [noun] > disjunction, disunion, or disconnection
unknittingc1384
discretiona1398
disjunctionc1400
disjuncturec1400
discouplingc1425
unjoining?c1425
unjointing?c1425
disjoining1530
disunion1598
breach1625
disunity1632
disconnection1663
disjointure1757
disjointing1794
disarticulation1808
non-union1823
the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > continuity or uninterruptedness > discontinuity or interrupted condition > [noun]
solution of continuity1543
discontinuity1570
discontinuation1605
discontiguity1632
discreteness1835
discontinuousness1837
brokenness1842
discretion1848
incontinuity1865
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. ii. viii. 71 Diuers discrecioun [L. discretionem] and participacioun of grace in þe aungeles þat beþ iclepid seraphin.
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) v. pr. iii. l. 4571 Þanne ne shollen þer neuer ben..vice ne vertue. but it sholde raþer ben confusioun of alle desertes medlid wiþoute discresioun [L. sed omnium meritorum potius mixta atque indiscreta confusio].
c1440 (a1349) R. Rolle Seven Gifts Holy Ghost (Thornton) in G. G. Perry Eng. Prose Treat. (1921) 13 Wysedome es..thynkynge of heuen, with discrecyone of all men [a1450 Cambr. Dd.5.64 in al mens; a1425 Arundel in alle oure] dedys.
a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 88 (MED) Ordeyne now þanne þe substance of þe eyre by discrecioun.
?1591 R. Bruce Serm. Sacrament i. sig. B7v Without discretioun of his substance fra his graces.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 217 It is some question among the Learned, whether there be any discretion of sexe.
1614 T. Jackson Third Bk. Comm. Apostles Creede iii. xi. 198 The same rule..might..serue for certaine discretion of true Prophets from false.
1677 T. Gale Court of Gentiles: Pt. IV 82 Al the notions of Virtue or Sanctitie..import Discretion, Separation, Singularitie, Preeminence.
1848 J. B. Stallo Philos. of Nature ii. 375 Quantity is the immediate unity of continuity and discretion.
1892 E. Caird Ess. Lit. & Philos. II. 522 Mind is a pure self-determined unity..which has no discretion of parts or capacity of division or determination from without.
1909 Mind 18 23 Rational numbers,..while they exhibit everywhere discretion, do not everywhere exhibit continuity.
2005 P. Kottman tr. A. Cavarero For more than one Voice iii. 211 The extreme limit, the discretion between the human and nonhuman, has been challenged.
Phrases
P1.
a. age of discretion: the age at which a person is presumed to be capable of exercising sound judgement, and therefore to be fully responsible for his or her words and actions. Cf. reason n.1 Phrases 1d(a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > adult > [noun] > adulthood or maturity > legal maturity
agec1275
elda1300
age of discretion1395
years of discretiona1402
discretionc1485
lawful years1548
age of consent1809
the age of reason1884
1395 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 5 If Thomas here sone forsayd dyeth or he haue age of discrecioun.
c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) (1960) 140 (MED) He þat wille be a virgine, he must in þe bigynnyng of age of discrecioun..refreyne þe kyndly stiringes of corrupcioun of nature.
1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. ixv The age of discression is sayd the age of .xiiii. yere.
1563 in W. Fraser Memorials Montgomeries (1859) II. 196 Quhill he be of perfyt age of discressione.
1651 tr. J. Kitchin Jurisdictions 206 An Infant at his age of discretion may surrender his copy-hold.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. xii. 69 My Sister, tho' many Years younger than me, is at least old enough to be at the Age of Discretion . View more context for this quotation
1832 H. Martineau Demerara i. 4 The freedom which is so precious to young people when they reach what appears to them the age of discretion.
1918 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 24 578 Church membership is ordinarily decided before the age of discretion without any element of judgment based upon knowledge entering into the situation.
2008 Q. Ahmed In Land of Invisible Women xxxi. 316 The little one is still not at the age of discretion and Islam favors his custody to me, the mother.
b. years of discretion [after post-classical Latin anni discretionis, plural (from 13th cent. in British sources), Anglo-Norman les anz de discrecion, plural (1st half of the 14th cent.)] : = age of discretion at Phrases 1a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > adult > [noun] > adulthood or maturity > legal maturity
agec1275
elda1300
age of discretion1395
years of discretiona1402
discretionc1485
lawful years1548
age of consent1809
the age of reason1884
a1402 J. Trevisa tr. R. Fitzralph Defensio Curatorum (Harl.) (1925) 56 Siche þefþe and trespace is siche stelyng of children wiþinne þe ȝeres of discrecioun while þei beþ vnder fader & moder keping.
1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) l. 1623 Whan she to ȝeris of dyscrescyon Was comyn, aftyr ther lawes guyse,..Wedded sche was.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) 145 The morowe tyde kepeynge ys oure yonge age, when we are come to yeres of dyscrecion, that we can knowe good and yuel.
1587 J. Bridges Def. Govt. Church of Eng. x. 805 They which are baptised in their infancy..when they came to the yeares of discretion, shoulde be diligently instructed in a certaine & simple catechism of the churches doctrine.
1605 S. Rowlands Hell's broke Loose sig. C2v Wee'le have no Babes to be Baptized, Vntill th[e]y come to yeeres of ripe discretion.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer i. 2 He's not come to years of discretion yet.
1848 J. J. S. Wharton Law Lexicon 21/1 A male..at fourteen is at years of discretion, so far at least that he may enter into a binding marriage.
1910 Pop. Sci. Monthly June 609 The social life which the idle classes maintain after reaching years of discretion.
1985 R. W. Beales in N. R. Hiner & J. M. Hawes Growing up in Amer. i. 17 It was agreed that the minister and at least one other church member were to examine the knowledge and spiritual experience of children who had grown to years of discretion.
2002 Times 1 June (Weekend section) 8/4 I try to give everybody something at Christmas. But once they reach the years of discretion (some hope), I cannot cope with a birthday a week.
P2.
a. at (also †after, †upon) the discretion of a person.
(a) According to a person's discernment or judgement; as a person pleases or wishes.
ΚΠ
1411After the discrecioun of the Mair & Aldermen [see sense 1a].
1487 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 53 At the discretioun of the provest and baillies.
1577 M. Hanmer tr. Socrates Scholasticus viii. xxv, in Aunc. Eccl. Hist. 391 Distribute them at thy discretion among the poore.
1657 J. Taylor Coll. Offices sig. B2 The Deprecation to be used upon solemn daies or at the discretion of him that ministers.
1730 P. Shaw tr. G. E. Stahl Philos. Princ. Universal Chem. i. iii. 55 The earth adhering to the mineral,..is here excluded, at the discretion of the Artist.
1797 D. Hume Comm. Law Scotl. II. ix. 47 Those offences against the person, which..are only punishable with some inferior pain, at the discretion of the court.
1832 Naut. Mag. June 221/1 These boys to be admitted gratuitously, or on an annual payment of one month's pay of the rank of the parent, at the discretion of the Council.
1863 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation 43 Power to inflict three dozen lashes at his own discretion.
1952 Billboard 12 July 68/4 (advt.) Guaranteed minimum salary $100 per week, raises periodically at my discretion.
2011 T. J. Moskowitz & L. J. Wertheim Scorecasting 139 This extra time is rationed at the discretion of the head referee and is not recorded or monitored anywhere else in the stadium.
(b) In military contexts: at the mercy of a person, nation, etc.; wholly in an adversary's power. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1549 W. Thomas Hist. Italie f. 104v They sent a blanke Charter vnto Peter Doria, than capitaine of the Genowaies armie, besechyng him to prescribe them what condicions he woulde, and they gladly would accept them: but..he woulde not haue them but at his owne descrecion.
?1572 T. Paynell tr. Treasurie Amadis of Fraunce vi. xxii. 141 To haue the Citie of Constantinople with thys countrey at my discretion, I not long ago am come to the field, accompanied with such a puissance, as euery man knoweth.
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour i. i. sig. B3v [He] exacts..the goods, and liues Of all within the walls, and of all Sexes To be at his discretion.
1657 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Politick Disc. 173 A Country wherein are no strong Holds, is alwaies in apparent danger, and left almost at the discretion of the Enemy.
1660 G. Mackenzie Aretina Contin. 414 Your rudeness hath lost you your sword, and your want of discretion, hath put you now upon the discretion of your enemy.
1702 London Gaz. No. 3830/2 All the Country..will lie at our Discretion.
1758 J. Jortin Life Erasmus I. 592 Roterdam was some days at the discretion of these rioters.
1840 W. F. Napier Hist. War Penins. VI. xxiv. vi. 661 The French abandoned Toulouse, leaving there three wounded generals, sixteen hundred men, several guns and a quantity of stores at the discretion of their adversaries.
1939 R. Syme Rom. Revol. (2002) xii. 170 To give up his army and surrender at the discretion of a party that claimed to be the government, that was folly and certain extinction.
b. at (also †on, †to, †upon) discretion.
(a) At one's pleasure or will; as one thinks proper; as one chooses or pleases.
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1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 83/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I How necessarie it is, not onely for the gouernour, but also for euery Noble man in Irelande to hamper his vnciuil neighbours at discretion.
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 525 Their office is to place and displace Church-men at discretion.
1656 J. Bramhall Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon vi. 231 Power to administer an Oath,..is a necessary qualification of a Judg, yet he may administer an Oath upon discretion.
1669 R. Boyle Contin. New Exper. Physico-mechanicall: 1st Pt. xli. 145 We could..continue the Experiment at discretion.
1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 218 One Vessel of Beer..free for any body to go to, and Drink at Discretion.
1763 London Mag. Feb. 64/1 Take..three quarters, or the whole dose; and repeat it, every other night, at discretion.
1834 T. Wentworth West India Sketch Bk. II. xviii. 4 The great number of venetian windows admitting at discretion as much light and air as may be agreeable to the occupants.
1871 J. Edkins China's Place in Philol. xii. 297 A concatenation of clauses..which might commence at discretion with conjunctions or the relative pronoun.
1930 Musical Q. 16 111 We must note a phenomenon whence deductions may be drawn at discretion:—namely, that Paganini's cerebellum is enormous.
2002 J. Getzler in P. Birks & A. Pretto Breach of Trust ii. 68 A type of gift economy..where friends and families performed managerial services for each other at discretion.
(b) In military contexts: (so as to be) wholly at an adversary's mercy; unconditionally. Now rare.
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1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin vi. 336 They encamped before Librafrata, which beeing manned with a very slender garrison, was within few dayes constrained to yeelde to discression.
1629 T. Hobbes tr. Thucydides Eight Bks. Peloponnesian Warre ii. 120 Conceiuing that they might haue gotten the Citie to discretion.
1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age ii. i. xxi. 217 General Wranghel..took..Paderborne at discretion.
1684 London Gaz. No. 1953/3 They write from Duseldorp..that Buda was Surrendred on discretion.
1691 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 273 The garison surrendring upon discretion.
1708 W. Darrell Suppl. to 1st Pt. Gentleman Instructed 111 If she stays to receive the attack, she is in danger of being at discretion.
1878 R. B. Smith Carthage iv. 83 The inhabitants surrendered at discretion, but they had to undergo all the horrors of a place taken by storm.
1936 Boys' Life May 17/2 But if you fail you—will surrender yourself and your men—at discretion?
P3. Proverb. discretion is the better part of valour and variants: one should know when to be prudent and when to be brave, and act accordingly; it is better to be cautious than to be thoughtlessly bold. Cf. he who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day at live v.1 Phrases 11a. [Compare ancient Greek καὶ τοῦτό τοι τἀνδρεῖον, ἡ προμηθία forethought, this too is bravery (Euripides Suppliants 510).]
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1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 23 Than as wyse and discrete he withdrewe him sayng that more is worth a good retrayte, than a folisshe abydinge.]
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. iv. 119 The better parte of valour is discretion . View more context for this quotation
1619 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher King & No King iv. sig. I Bess. My sword forst, but not lost; for discreetely I renderd it to saue that imputation. 1 Gent. It shewed discretion the best part of valour.
1653 F. G. tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ Artamenes I. ii. ii. 45 You ought not to mix rashnesse and valour together: Discretion is the better part of valour.
1800 E. M. James Hist. Jenny Spinner Introd. 6 His good lady..exhorted me not to talk too much against ghosts, but bid me remember, ‘Discretion is the better part of valour’.
1867 ‘A Royalist’ Loyalist's Daughter III. xxxiii. 20 ‘Our enemies are too many for us, and when “discretion is the better part of valour”,—’ ‘Yes; but, Kate,’ interrupted the lady, ‘silence is the better part of discretion.’
1930 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 26 Feb. 12/6 I wanted to mention their names, but as ‘discretion is the better part of valour’, I shall leave the matter to the selectors.
2006 H. Sebag-Montefiore Dunkirk ix. 98 Sarin and his men, realizing that discretion was the better part of valour, ran away from those threatening them, and made good their escape.
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1586 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. I. lxviii. 769 They knew not what it was to liue at discretion [Fr. viure a discretion], much lesse to go a foraging, to rob, steale, beate or murder, as men do now a daies.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. App. 181 Suffering the Spanyards..to enter by force into the Town of Antuerpe, and there to continue six weeks, living at discretion at the poore Bourgers charge.
1683 J. Bulteel tr. F. E. de Mézeray Gen. Chronol. Hist. France 400 Paris beheld her self surrounded with Soldiers who lived at Discretion.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 200 We reckoned our selves in an Enemy's Country, and had lived a little at large, or at Discretion, as 'tis called abroad.
1779 Farmer's Mag. Oct. 295 The menaces of an insolent soldiery, who come to live at discretion in a house exposed to the numberless extortions of the treasury.
1820 G. A. Otis tr. C. Botta Hist. War Independence U.S.A. I. v. 420 The idea was insupportable, that the soldiers should live at discretion, in a country it was desired to gain and conciliate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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