Part 344

{ Dis*crep"ance (?; 277), Dis*crep"an*cy (?), } n.; pl. -ances (#), -ancies (#). [L. disrepantia: cf. OF. discrepance. See Discrepant.] The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement; variance; discordance; dissimilarity; contrariety.

There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture of youth and age, men and women.

Sir T. Elyot.

There is no real discrepancy between these two genealogies.

G. S. Faber.

Dis*crep"ant (?), a. [L. discrepans, -antis, p. pr. of discrepare to sound differently or discordantly; dis- + crepare to rattle, creak: cf. OF. discrepant. See Crepitate.] Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; contrary; different.

The Egyptians were . . . the most oddly discrepant from the rest in their manner of worship.

Cudworth.

Dis*crep"ant, n. A dissident. J. Taylor.

Dis*crete" (?), a. [L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet.] 1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale.

2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, "I resign my life, but not my honor," is a discrete proposition.

3. (Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent.

Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a. -- Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24. -- Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension.

Dis*crete", v. t. To separate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*crete"ly, adv. Separately; disjunctively.

Dis*cre"tion (?), n. [F. discrétion, L. discretio separation, difference, discernment, fr. discernere, discretum. See Discreet, Discern.] 1. Disjunction; separation. [Obs.] Mede.

2. The quality of being discreet; wise conduct and management; cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self-control; prudence; circumspection; wariness.

The better part of valor is discretion.

Shak.

The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner.

Hume.

3. Discrimination.

Well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.

Shak.

4. Freedom to act according to one's own judgment; unrestrained exercise of choice or will.

At discretion, without conditions or stipulations.

<! p. 423 !>

{ Dis*cre"tion*al (?), Dis*cre"tion*a*ry (?), }[Cf. F. discrétionnaire.] Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; as, an ambassador with discretionary powers.