- chary
- \ \ see CARE
Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
chary
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Chary — Char y (ch[^a]r [y^] or ch[=a] r[y^]; 277), a. [AS. cearig careful, fr. cearu care. See {Care}.] 1. Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, or reckless; as, the latest internet IPO s were shunned by investors made chary by the poor performance of the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
chary — [cher′ē, char′ē] adj. charier, chariest [ME chari, concerned, sorrowful < OE cearig, sorrowful < cearu, caru, CARE; change of sense by assoc. with care] 1. not taking chances; careful; cautious [to be chary of offending others] 2. not… … English World dictionary
chary — chary; un·chary; … English syllables
chary — ► ADJECTIVE (charier, chariest) ▪ cautiously reluctant: leaders are chary of reform. ORIGIN Old English, «sorrowful, anxious» … English terms dictionary
chary — index circumspect, discreet, frugal, guarded, leery, parsimonious, penurious, provident (showing foresight), pru … Law dictionary
Chary — Nom porté en Lorraine (54, 57), en Saône et Loire et en Normandie (76). Il semble que ce soit un toponyme (nom de divers lieux dits dans l Est). Voir aussi Charry … Noms de famille
chary — (adj.) O.E. cearig sorrowful (see CARE (Cf. care)). Sense evolved 16c. from full of care to careful. Cognate with O.S. carag, O.H.G. charag sorrow, trouble, care … Etymology dictionary
chary — *cautious, circumspect, wary, calculating Analogous words: prudent, discreet, provident (see under PRUDENCE): *sparing, economical, frugal, thrifty: reluctant, hesitant, loath, *disinclined … New Dictionary of Synonyms
chary — [adj] careful, cautious cagey, calculating, canny, circumspect, considerate, constrained, discreet, economical, fastidious, frugal, gingerly, guarded, heedful, hesitant, inhibited, leery, loath, miserly, particular, prudent, reluctant, restrained … New thesaurus
chary — adj. 1) chary about (chary about doing smt.) 2) chary of (chary of strangers) * * * [ tʃe(ə)rɪ] chary about (chary about doing smt.) chary of (chary of strangers) … Combinatory dictionary
chary — charily, adv. /chair ee/, adj., charier, chariest. 1. cautious or careful; wary: He was chary of investing in oil wells. 2. shy; timid. 3. fastidious; choosy: She is excessively chary about her friends. 4. sparing (often fol. by of): chary of his … Universalium
