## Meanings
1. The freedom to decide something for yourself, using your own judgement.
2. Care to avoid saying or doing things that could cause embarrassment or upset.

## Examples
- Whether to accept the offer is left entirely to your discretion.
- The staff handled the matter with great tact and discretion.

## Antonyms
- indiscretion

## Derived Forms
- discretional
- discretionary
- discretionless

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *krey-
- Root: discrecioun
- Root: discretion
- Root: discrētiō
- Root: discerno

## Etymology
From Middle English discrecioun, from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discrētiō, from Latin discerno. Equivalent to discreet + -ion.

## AI Etymology
Discretion comes from Middle English discrecioun, from Old French discretion, from Late Latin discrētiō, from Latin discerno. Equivalent to discreet + -ion. The historical chain includes *krey- (Proto-Indo-European), discrecioun (Middle English), discretion (Old French), discrētiō (Late Latin), and discerno (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as discretional, discretionary, and discretionless. In present use it covers the freedom to decide something for yourself, using your own judgement and care to avoid saying or doing things that could cause embarrassment or upset.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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