reticence
Short definition from Wiktionary
Noun
- Avoidance of saying or reluctance to say too much; discretion, tight-lippedness; (countable) an instance of acting in this manner.
- A silent and reserved nature.
- Followed by of: discretion or restraint in the use of something.
- Often followed by to: hesitancy or reluctance (to do something).
- Synonym of aposiopesis (“an abrupt breaking-off in speech”).
Verb
- To deliberately not listen or pay attention to; to disregard, to ignore.
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