What is the Latin word for discretion?

The usual Latin words for “discretion” are cautiō, circumspectiō, prūdēns; also dīligō, gravitās, cōnstō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“discretion” in Latin

cautiōprecaution, caution; stipulation, proviso, exception circumspectiōlooking around; caution, circumspection; foresight prūdēnswise, prudent; skilful, knowledgeable (in a specific matter)dīligōto esteem, prize, love, have regard, to delight in (something); to set apart by choosing, to single (something) out, to gravitāsweight, heaviness; gravity, seriousness; severity, harshness cōnstōto stand together; to stand still; to remain the same; stand firm; to agree, correspond, fit arbitriumthe decision of an arbiter, arbitration; judgement, decision, opinion; discretion, liberal decision; arbitrary decision,arbitrorto judge, arbitrate; to witness, observe; to believe, think voluntāswill, free will, choice; desire, inclination; disposition towards (something or someone)cōnsiliumplan, intention, design, purpose; counsel, advice; determination, resolve, resolution

The English word discretion itself goes back to Latin cernō, through discrētiō.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

discretion

Prudence, cautio: circumspectio: prudentia: circumspectum judicium: circumspectio et accurata consideratio: diligentia: gravitas (opposed to levitas SYN. in CIRCUMSPECTION): constantia (opposed to amentia or furor. Vid: Benecke ad Cic., Cat., 2, 11, 25). Sometimes consilium: judicium: to come to years of discretion, in suam tutelam venire or pervenire; sui juris fieri, or (if the growth of the intellect is to be intimated) *ad aliquam in consilio capiendo prudentiam pervenisse; or *ad aliquam intelligendi prudentiam pervenisse: to have almost arrived at years of discretion, prope puberem aetatem esse: to use one’s own discretion in acting according to circumstances, consilium capere ex re et ex tempore (Cic.); libere ad summam rerum consulere (opposed to ad praescriptum agere, Caes.). To act without discretion, temere agere: to have no discretion, temerarium esse; nullius esse consilii: it requires much discretion, res est multae diligentiae.

Power of acting without control, arbitrium or (in ablative) arbitratus (anybody’s decision as final): voluntas (will). At my discretion, ad arbitrium nostrum libidinemque; meo arbitratu: at discretion, ad libidinem; ex libidine; libere (freely; e.g., libere ad summam rerum consulere; opposed to ad praescriptum agere, Caes. B. C. 3, 51): to leave anything to anybody’s discretion, alicui or alicujus arbitrio permittere aliquid: to authorize anybody to act at his own discretion in anything, permittere alicui liberum arbitrium de (Liv.): this ought to be left entirely to your discretion, id tui arbitrii debet esse (after Liv., 37, 52). I have sent you my speech; you may keep it or publish it at your own discretion, orationem misi, ejus custodiendae et proferendae arbitrium tuum (Cic., Att., 15, 13).

To surrender at discretion, se in fidem victoris permittere; se suaque omnia potestati or fidei victoris, or in fidem atque potestatem victoris permittere; libero victoris arbitrio se permittere; arbitrium victoris exspectare; armis positis ad victoris fidem confugere.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for discretion?: The usual Latin words for “discretion” are cautiō, circumspectiō, prūdēns; also dīligō, gravitās, cōnstō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.