Tact TACT, n. [L. tactus, from tango, [for tago,] to touch.]
1. Touch; feeling; formerly, the stroke in beating time in music.
2. Peculiar skill or faculty; nice perception or discernment.
tact
1651, "sense of touch or feeling," from L. tactus "touch, feeling,
handling, sense of touch," from root of tangere "to touch." Meaning
"sense of "discernment, diplomacy, etc." first recorded c.1805, from
Fr. tact, from L. tactus.
tact n. 1 adroitness in dealing with others or with difficulties arising from personal feeling. 2 intuitive perception of the right thing to do or say. Etymology: F f. L tactus
touch, sense of touch f. tangere tact- touch
tact
Tact is the ability to avoid upsetting or offending people by being careful not to
say or do things that would hurt their feelings.
On this occasion the press have not been intrusive and they have shown great tact.= diplomacy
N-UNCOUNT
tact
tækt n. 1 adroitness in dealing with others or with difficulties
arising from personal feeling. 2 intuitive perception of the right thing to
do or say. [F f. L tactus touch, sense of touch f. tangere tact- touch]
Tact \Tact\, n. [L. tactus a touching, touch, fr. tangere,
tactum, to touch: cf. F. tact. See Tangent.]
1. The sense of touch; feeling.
Did you suppose that I could not make myself
sensible to tact as well as sight? --Southey.
Now, sight is a very refined tact. --J. Le Conte.
2. (Mus.) The stroke in beating time.
3. Sensitive mental touch; peculiar skill or faculty; nice
perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and
doing what is required by circumstances.
He had formed plans not inferior in grandeur and
boldness to those of Richelieu, and had carried them
into effect with a tact and wariness worthy of
Mazarin. --Macaulay.
A tact which surpassed the tact of her sex as much
as the tact of her sex surpassed the tact of ours.
--Macaulay.
tact
n.1.(Rare.) Touch, feeling, taction, sense of feeling.
2. Adroitness (in appreciating circumstances and acting accordingly), skill
(in saying or doing what is most appropriate to the occasion), quick judgment,
nice perception, cleverness, dexterity, knack, savoir faire.
tact
tækt n. discretion, diplomacy, sensitivity, savoir faire, judgement, politesse, delicacy,
finesse, cleverness, prudence, care, carefulness, dexterity, dexterousness, discernment,
judiciousness, adroitness, skill, acumen, acuteness, perception, understanding, consideration,
thoughtfulness, politeness: You can count on Robert to handle such matters with consummate tact.
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