/chary-meaning

/chary

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: tʃɛərɪ.

-) Comparative form: charier.

-) Superlative form: chariest.

-) Etymology: from Old English cearig “careful”, from cearu, caru “care”. Walter Skeat: chary is the adjective of care, and partakes of its double acceptation: sorrow, heedfulness.

-) It is dated from 1000.

-) 1. Obsolete and pristine meanings: -) a. Causing sorrow. -) b. Feeling sorrow.

-) 2. Archaic meaning: kept or preserved carefully as an object of affection.

-) 3. Current meaning: (the subject: an animated being) careful, cautious; caring much.

-) Synonyms for “chary”: wary, cautious, circumspect, careful, prudent, heedful, concerned, interested, mindful, attentive, solicitous, regardful.

-) Antonyms of “chary”: reckless, careless, rash, heedless, unconcerned; not caring; uninterested; indifferent, regardless, unattending, inattentive, unmindful, unsolicitous, unheedful, incautious, unchary.

… the importance of being chary of one's steed on the prairies.

Irving… A Tour on the Prairies… 1835

-) a. Specially: careful about what to eat and what not to eat; hesitant about food; fastidious:

Another [eagle], which is rather smaller, not so powerful, … is either for the land or water, hunting or fishing…; not inhabiting so wild places, nor quite so chary in its food as the former…

R. Mudie… The feathered tribes… 1834

-) b. In special: cautiously reluctant; careful no to do something.

-) It is usually construed with the prepositions “of”, “in”. Less usually “about”.

There is a coarser variety of this fish… that is not so chary in taking the bait.

The Sporting magazine… 1840

It appears that the populace, having become somewhat chary in their belief in astrologers, conjurors, and mountebanks, were more loth than before to part with their money to such worthies.

London. Vol. 1-2, edited by C. Knight… 1842

She was on all occasions chary of opening the street door.

Dickens… Chuzzlewit… 1844

… his habitual reserve often concealed feelings that he was chary of displaying.

J. Stepney… Leaves from the diary… 1854

He looked habitually on the ground when he conversed, was chary of speech, embarrassed.

J. Motley… The Rise… 1855

The sheriff's name was O'Malley, which is reason enough why Luis was chary of confiding Mexican secrets to his keeping.

Bower… Starr… 1917

-) b. In special: careful not to waste; careful not to part with.

-) It is usually construed with the preposition “of”.

The ancient Persians, as well as the Parthians, esteemed water the best drink: for, we are told of their kings, that they drank nothing but water; of which they were very chary, as well as cautious in their choice.

C. Lucas… An essay on waters… 1756

The Literary Club… had now been in existence several years. Johnson was exceedingly chary at first of its exclusiveness, and opposed to its being augmented in number.

Irving… O. Goldsmith… 1832

Fortunately, however chary the Indians might be of their horses, they were liberal of their dogs.

Irving… Astoria… 1836

At five o'clock in summer, at seven in winter (for Miss Honeyman, a good economist, was chary of candlelight), Hannah woke up little Sally, and these three women rose.

Thackeray… The Newcomes… 1854

My father sits… in his chair all day, more chary of speech than ever, more irritable, and with look more vacant.

Robinson… The House… 1855

[Gustave] haunted the dull salon, dim and dreary in the twilight; for Madame Magnotte was chary of lamps and candles, and prolonged to its utmost limits the pensive interval between day and night.

E. Braddon… Charlotte's Inheritance… 1868

I have other things that I care more to write to you about than politics, and am chary of my space, because, though I can cross my letter, I can only have one sheet of paper.

F. Kemble… Records of a Girlhood… 1878

-) Words derived from “chary”: unchary, charily, chariness.

 

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