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Times, October 15, 2024
More from the illustrious Times. ‘Discrete’ means separate or unconnected, as in ‘there are four discrete movements in the symphony; it is often used in a technical or mathematical context. The word wanted here is ‘discreet’, meaning cautious or unobtrusive. That is to leave aside the split infinitive, which could have been avoided by rephrasing thus: ‘to continue their discreet search’.