Discrete

[Lat. discretus. See DISCREET.] Separate; distinct; disjunct; as, a discrete quantity. -Disjunctive; discretive; as, "I resign my life, but not my honor, is a discrete proposition." - Johnson. D. movement. A sudden pitch of the voice from one extremity of the musical scale to another; - opposed to concrete movement. D. proportion. ( Arith .) Proportion where the ratio between two pairs of numbers, or quantities, is the same; but without there being the same proportion between all the four; thus, 6:8::3:4. D. quantity. ( Arith . ) A quantity of which the component parts have a separate and distinct existence; thus, numbers are discrete quantities, being composed of separate units. Discretion, (dis-kresh'on,) n. [Fr.; L. Lat. discretio .] Quality of being discreet; prudence, or knowledge and prudence; wise management; true discernment united with caution; knowledge to govern or direct one's self properly; nice discernment and judgment, directed by IMG:content-0625.png:[blocks in formation] Discreʼtional, Discretionary, a . [Fr. discretionnaire.] Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; that is to be directed or managed by discretion only; as, discretionary power. Discretionally, Discreʼtionarily, adv . At discretion; by discretion; according to discretion. Discreʼtive, a . Disjunctive; noting separation or opposition; separate; distinct. D. proposition . ( Logic .) A proposition expre ing distinction, contrarine , or variety, noted by the particles but , though , yet , .; as," Job was patient, though his grief was great." -Watts .-(Gram.) A D. distinction is one which implies opposition; as, not a man, but a beast. Discreʼtively, adv . In a discretive manner. Discriminant, n. ( Math .) The D. of a given quantity is the resultant of the system of equation, formed by equating to zero the several first derived functions of that quantity.