Reticence
/ˈrɛt.ɪ.səns/noun
The quality of being reserved, restrained, or reluctant to speak.
Did you know?Reticence ultimately comes from Latin reticēre, meaning “to keep silent,” built from re- (“back”) + tacēre (“to be silent”), the same ancient root behind the idea of tacit consent.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
reticēre
“to keep silent, say nothing”
Latin
Latin
reticentia
“silence, reservedness”
Old French
Old French
reticence
“silence, reserve”
16th Century
English
reticence
“silence or reserve in speech”
Modern English
English
reticence
“the quality of being reserved or unwilling to speak”