n. 1 the avoidance of saying all one knows or feels, or of saying more than is necessary; reserve in speech. 2 a disposition to silence; taciturnity. 3 the act or an instance of holding back some fact. 4 abstinence from overemphasis in art. reticent adj. reticently adv.
[ L reticentia f. reticere (as RE-, tacere be silent) ]