Reticent/reluctant

Question

The word "reticent" refers to "'reluctance to speak" but invariably when I hear people using the word "reticent" they're are using it incorrectly as a synonym for "reluctant." Does there come a point when we must throw in the towel and accept its meaning as merely "reluctant" when virtually everyone is using it incorrectly?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]The word "reticent" refers to "'reluctance to speak" but invariably when I hear people using the word "reticent" they're are ... we must throw in the towel and accept its meaning as merely "reluctant" when virtually everyone is using it incorrectly?[/nq]
Sure, but we haven't reached that point with "reticent". Only an ignorant person would use "reticent" to mean "reluctant". I'm sorry, but that's currently how it is.
Me, I don't believe I've ever consciously heard or seen any use of "reticent" to mean "reluctant", and I have consciously heard many speakers using "reticent" in its proper way.
Moreover, I don't believe your definition of "reticent" is an accurate one; a reticent person isn't necessarily one who is reluctant to speak. Reluctance and reticence are orthogonal, as someone other than Michael Hardy would say.

Usenet · Answer

on 30 Oct 2003:
[nq:1]The word "reticent" refers to "'reluctance to speak" but invariably when I hear people using the word "reticent" they're are ... we must throw in the towel and accept its meaning as merely "reluctant" when virtually everyone is using it incorrectly?[/nq]
If enough people commit this semantic solecism, then it becomes accepted as "the way English is spoken". It is not necessary to throw in the towel, though. You can probably get by with the washcloth only. Don't bother correcting their English. Just ask them what they mean by "reticent" and say "Ah, I see. You mean 'reluctant to do something', not 'reluctant to speak about doing it'(1)." Don't cave in by misusing the word yourself. Correct it whenever you have been asked to edit someone's writing.
(1) You obviously will have to stop saying this when enough dictionaries recognize "reticent" as a synonym for "reluctant". That might mean now, though. Here is what W3NID says about "reticent":

Main Entry:reticent*
Function:adjective
RELUCTANT, HESITANT

Usenet · Answer

Yes, I'm afraid your conclusion is correct. Cringe as one may, ignorance and confusion about the precise meaning of words is a part of the evolution of any language. A discriminating user ought never to fall into this trap, but once a new meaning of a word becomes part and parcel of the language, it becomes "correct usage". That seems to be what is happening to "reticent".

Original Message

Newsgroups: alt.usage.english
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 8:05 AM
Subject: reticent/reluctant

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]The word "reticent" refers to "'reluctance to speak" but invariably when I hear people using the word "reticent" they're are ... we must throw in the towel and accept its meaning as merely "reluctant" when virtually everyone is using it incorrectly?[/nq]
You posted this and the one about podium/lectern about 3-4 months ago.

Refer to that discusion.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Reticent/reluctant

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