Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: French
Origin: 'sense of touch', from Latin tactus, from tangere 'to touch'

tact

 noun
     
tact [uncountable]
the ability to be careful about what you say or do, so that you do not upset or embarrass other people [↪ tactful, tactless]:
With great tact, Clive persuaded her to apologize.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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