Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-CRE'TION, n. [Fr. discretion; It. discrezione; Sp. discrecion; from the L. discretio, a separating; discretus, discerno. See Discreet.]

1. Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution; nice discernment and judgment, directed by circumspection, and primarily regarding one's own conduct. A good man … will guide his affairs with discretion. – Ps. cxii. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion. – Prov. iii.
2. Liberty or power of acting without other control than one's own judgment; as, the management of affairs was left to the discretion of the prince; he is left to his own discretion. Hence, To surrender at discretion, is to surrender without stipulation or terms, and commit one's self entirely to the power of the conqueror.
3. Disjunction; separation. [Not much used.] – Mede.