reticent

Word family

ret·i·cent /ˈretəsənt/ adjectiveadj

TALK TO somebodyunwilling to talk about what you feel or what you know 寡言的，不愿多谈的 SYN reserved

reticent about

She’s strangely reticent about her son.

很奇怪，她不愿意多谈自己的儿子。

► see thesaurus at quiet

—reticence noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

reticent• Yet over one thing Edna had remained consistently reticent.• But on few matters, it must be added, is even the most sophisticated economic and social comment more reticent.• In this matter, she is strangely reticent.• The official reports are also reticent.• Auster was somewhat reticent about it at first, but finally admitted he was working on a new book.• McLaren keeps his own counsel, being as reticent as Ferguson is gregarious.• Few of them cared to talk about their jobs; they were as reticent as veterans of an unpopular war.• Irma was a shy and reticent child.• The hon. Gentleman has been noticeably reticent in this respect in the past.• John always was more reticent than his sister.

reticent about• Shaw is clearly reticent about discussing his private life.

Origin reticent

(1600-1700) Latin present participle of reticere “to keep silent”, from tacere; → TACIT

ret·i·cent adjectiveadj

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus