Cautious

Cautious
Cautious Cau"tious, a. [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See {Caution}.] Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general. [1913 Webster]

Cautious feeling for another's pain. --Byron. [1913 Webster]

Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. --Watts.

Syn: Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet; heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful.

Usage: {Cautious}, {Wary}, {Circumspect}. A man is cautious who realizes the constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • cautious — cau‧tious [ˈkɔːʆəs ǁ ˈkɒː ] adjective if buyers or investors are cautious, they are unwilling to buy because they feel uncertain about the future: • Seoul investors turned cautious about the market s rapid rises last week, and share prices ended… …   Financial and business terms

  • cautious — cautious, circumspect, wary, chary, calculating are comparable when meaning prudently attentive to the dangers one may encounter or the risks one may face, or revealing such attendveness. The same differences in implications and connotations are… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cautious — index careful, circumspect, deliberate, diffident, discreet, frugal, guarded, hesitant, judicious …   Law dictionary

  • cautious — mid 17c., from CAUTION (Cf. caution) + OUS (Cf. ous). The Latin word for this was cautus careful, heedful. Related: Cautiously …   Etymology dictionary

  • cautious — [adj] careful, guarded alert, all ears*, cagey, calculating, chary, circumspect, considerate, discreet, forethoughtful, gingerly, hedging one’s bets*, heedful, judicious, keeping on one’s toes*, leery, on the lookout*, playing it cool*, playing… …   New thesaurus

  • cautious — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ careful to avoid potential problems or dangers. DERIVATIVES cautiously adverb cautiousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • cautious — [kô′shəs] adj. full of caution; careful to avoid danger; circumspect; wary SYN. CAREFUL cautiously adv. cautiousness n …   English World dictionary

  • cautious — adj. 1) cautious about, of (he was cautious about committing himself; she was cautious of strangers) 2) cautious in (cautious in using firearms) 3) cautious with (be cautious with them) * * * [ kɔːʃəs] of (he was cautious about committing… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • cautious — 01. Scientists have to be very [cautious] in applying this new cloning technology. 02. Don t worry, he s a very [cautious] driver. 03. The sign said, Men at work on highway, proceed with [caution]. 04. Extreme [caution] should be taken when… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • cautious — adjective Date: 1614 marked by or given to caution < cautious investors > < cautious optimism > • cautiously adverb • cautiousness noun Synonyms: cautious, circumspect, wary, chary mean …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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