wary - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From the adjective ware +‎ -y.

wary (comparative warier, superlative wariest)

  1. Cautious of danger; carefully watching and guarding against deception, trickery, and dangers; suspiciously prudent
    Synonyms: circumspect, scrupulous, careful
    He is wary of dogs.
  2. Characterized by caution; guarded; careful; on one's guard
  3. thrifty, provident

cautious of danger; timorously or suspiciously prudent; circumspect; scrupulous

characterized by caution; guarded; careful

From Middle English warien, from Old English wierġan (“to curse, do evil”), from Proto-West Germanic *wargijan, from Proto-Germanic *wargijaną (“to condemn, curse”), from Proto-Germanic *wargaz (“criminal”). Doublet of warry.

wary (third-person singular simple present waries, present participle warying, simple past and past participle waried)

  1. (dialectal) To curse, revile.

wary m inan

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative plural of war