/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.

 

 | 

/careless-meaning

/careless-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective. 

-) Pronunciation and accent: kɛəlɪs.

-) Etymology: it is analyzed into the noun of CARE and the suffix –less.

-) Comparative form: more careless.

-) Superlative form: most careless.

-) It is dated from 1000.

-) 1. Obsolete and pristine meaning: having no care (anxiety or apprehension). 

If there was any act of friendship he particularly prized, it was the intervention that should relieve him of the anxiety and trouble of a difficult negotiation, and leave him, thoughtless and careless, to stroll about, neither thinking of the present nor uneasy for the future.

C. Lever… The Daltons… 1852

-) 2. (Of somebody) having no care for anything; not concerning oneself with anything.

-) Antonyms of “careless”: careful, concerned, interested, mindful, heedful, attentive, solicitous, regardful, cautious, chary.

-) Synonyms for “careless”: unconcerned; not caring; uninterested; indifferent, regardless, unattending, inattentive, unmindful, unsolicitous, unheedful, incautious, unchary.

-) Translation: descuidado (de), in Spanish; incurante (di), in Italian; inattentif (à), in French.

What was the passion so powerful that it would almost induce the generous to be mean, the careless to be cautious, the guileless to be deeply designing, and the dove to emulate the serpent?

Dickens… Speeches… 1880

-) With the preposition “of” + a noun or a gerund:

I am careless at present of consequences.

S. Richardson… Clarissa… 1748

Few of either sex thought it necessary to hide themselves under the awnings of bathing machines: posts, with ropes fastened to them, are fixed into the sands, and these were taken possession of by numerous groups of women, six or seven in a row, jumping, ducking, laughing, and screaming, evidently as careless of being seen as of being drowned.

R. Ayton… A voyage round Great Britain… 1815

Fear is something a horseman should never exhibit in his conntenance or voice, as the horse is a close observer, and soon learns to take advantage of such indications to become careless of control, if not indeed aggressive.

R. Gleason… Gleason’s horse book… 1832

After a very little talking, which he was careless of and quite indifferent to, they told him he was to go to Newgate, and took him away.

Dickens… Barnaby… 1841

On he went, careless of the burning heat and the hot rays of the sun.

C. Lever… The Daltons… 1852

Mr. Lascelles might have been a more congenial companion, but he was taciturn by nature, and utterly careless of being agreeable to others.

C. Cameron… English Life… 1855

[Friedrich Wilhelm] stays well at home, careless of affairs that are not his.

T. Carlyle… History of Friedrich… 1859

I remember that I made a last appeal to her as we walked towards it, and that we loitered on the bridge, careless of who might see us there, in a final conflict of our wills.

H. Wells… The Passionate Friends… 1913

-) With the prepositions “about”, “on”, “upon”, “toward” + noun:

I was very indifferent and careless upon this subject; but not a little uneasy at finding that my dress, so different from that of the company to which I belonged, attracted general notice and observation.

F. Burney… Evelina… 1778

Both sexes… seem very careless about their hair, and have nothing like combs to dress it with.

J. Cook… The Three Voyages… 1821

While the young bees are in the larva state, the utmost care is taken of them. If any member of the hive is rude or careless toward the egg, or worm, or the yet unhatched pupa, the nurses are very angry.

Merry’s museum, vol. 5-6… 1842

He got quite careless about his dress.

H. Wells… The Wonderful Visit… 1895

-) With the prepositional construction “as to” + a noun, a gerund, or a dependent clause introduced by an interrogative adverb:

Reckless enough as to facts, he is never careless as to effect.

The westminister review… 1824-1914

From preferring to be good, rather than to seem so, the people had now become equally careless as to being and seeming.

Pinnock… The Guide to knowledge… 1833

… careless as to results, indifferent to obstacles.

W. Ainsworth… Rookwood… 1834

In no part of the kingdom were the farmers more careless as to the breed, providing only that the cows were true Suffolks.

Youatt… Cattle… 1834

-) With a subordinate interrogative clause (she is careless where he went = she does not care where he went):

… when they found detection approaching them, they wished to ward it off, careless what were the means, careless who was the instrument.

Gurney… The trial of Charles… 1814

To avoid observation, she was too happy to retire again into a corner with him who was now the whole world to her. Never had she looked more lovely, never had he felt prouder of her charms; yet they danced the first dance together, careless who was looking at them, thinking only of themselves.

M. Hudson… Almack’s 1826

… he still threw his line, in thoughtful mood, and seemed all too careless whether the fish were caught or not.

G. Rainsford… The robber… 1838

As he proceeded, careless in which direction, he met many with whom he had been acquainted.

Marryat… The Phantom Ship… 1839

You must… give me some fish... Any one kind of fish, I am entirely careless which.

J. Bentham… The works… 1843

We had gone out by the front door; we soon traversed the park; and getting into the lanes, hurried on, ignorant and careless where we were going.

Marsh-Caldwell… Mount Sorel… 1845

“I promise!” she cried aloud, at intervals, careless who might notice her, and trusting that Alice might be yet within hearing.

J. Vincent… Lady Alice… 1849

… careless which way I turned my steps, crossed the river.

F. Smedley… Frank Fairlegh… 1850

Letter-writing has become an easy [… thing]. We write because we have got something to say, feeling careless how it is said.

The living age, vol. 44… 1855

At the corner of the street he stopped to light another cigar, and possibly to ask himself what he was doing otherwise. If so, the answer was indefinite and vague. Who knows what he is doing, who is careless what he does!

Dickens… Our Mutual Friend… 1864

-) With a dependent clause, introduced by the conjunction “that”:

The great triremes and quinqueremes rushed onward past the lagging transports, careless, in the mad race for safety, that they were leaving the greater number of their comrades defenceless in the rear of the flight.

C. Kingsley… Hypatia… 1853

-) 3. (Of a person or a similar animal) having little or insufficient care in doing anything.

-) Synonyms: inaccurate, negligent.

-) Antonyms: careful, cautious.

It is, doubtless, the natural fertility of the country, combined with the mildness and serenity of the climate, that renders the natives so careless in their cultivation, that, in  many places, though, overflowing with the richest productions, the smallest traces of it cannot be observed.

The Three Voyages… J. Cook… 1821

Strabo informs us that, in his time, the copyists were so careless that they neglected to compare what they wrote with the exemplar.

W. Stevenson… Life… 1826

The work is thus done much better and cheaper, as it could be done with fewer men, and without the danger that often occurs by careless men neglecting their duty.

The Yearbook of facts in science and art.. 1851

Possibly the writer was careless in speaking of this subject.

A. Wigan… The great wonders… 1856

I mention this to show that he was not careless in his habits, but that, on the contrary, he always took the greatest precautions against fraud or violence.

A. Pinkerton… The Somnambulist… 1875

He… appeared to be careless in his dress.

Biographia Epistolaris… 1911

-) 4. -) a. (Of an act, a personal quality) done, caused, or said with little, insufficient, or no care; characteristic of carelessness. -) b. (Of the manner of doing something) characteristic of carelessness.

-) Antonyms: careful, heedful, solicitous.

-) Synonyms: unconcerned; unheedful.

The dialogue was soon concluded; and with the same careless indifference with which they had approached each other, the mother turned towards the inner end of the yard, and the girl to the gate at which she had entered.

Dickens… Sketches by Boz… 1836

The right arm of the Chess-Player is extended at full length before him, at right angles with his body, and lying, in an apparently careless position, by the side of the board.

Poe… Maelzel’s Chess-Player… 1836

… approaching him [the villain] in a careless manner, as if about to address him, [Peters] seized him by the throat, and, before he could utter a single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks.

Poe… The Narrative… 1838

… his son leaned in an equally careless attitude against a donkey, which, with a pair of panniers and a bundle of stakes upon its back, formed a conspicuous feature in the group.

W. Ainsworth… Mervyn… 1858

-) Words derived from “care”: carelessly (adv.), carelessness, carelesswise, carer, caretake, care-taker, care-taking, cared, careful, carefully, carefulness, uncaring, uncaringly, uncaringness, uncared-for, uncareful, uncarefully, uncarefulness, overcare (noun), over-careful, over-carefully, over-carefulness, over-caring.

 

 | 

 

/brisk-meaning

/brisk-meaning-etymology-synonyms

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation: brɪsk.

-) Etymology: of uncertain origin.

-) Comparative form: brisker. Superlative form: briskest.

-) It is dated from the end of 1300.

-) 1. -) a. (Of an animated being) moving with quickness; quick in action or movement; acting briskly or actively. 

-) Synonyms for “brisk”: active, quick, cheery, nimble, sprightly, energetic, zippy, spry, perk.

-) Antonyms of “brisk”: dull, moped, inactive, sluggish, lazy, slothful.

-) Translation: activo, dinámico, in Spanish; expéditif, actif, dynamique, in French; dinamico, attivo, in Italian.

When the ladies were gone, which was as soon as Amelia could prevail on Mrs. James to depart, Colonel Bath, who had been pretty brisk with champagne at dinner, soon began to display his magnanimity.

Fielding… Amelia… 1751

According to this most pleasing of all naturalists, the microscope discovers that the seminal liquor, not only of males, but of females also, abounds in these moving little animals which have been mentioned above, and that they appear equally brisk in either fluid.

Goldsmith… A History of the Earth… 1774

… so I became sullen and silent, my opponent in an equal degree brisk and loquacious. 

Howard… Rattlin the Reefer… 1834

… the old gentleman came in as brisk as need be.

Dickens… Oliver… 1838

… it was a common saying among their friends, that it was impossible to say which looked the happier, Tim as he sat calmly smiling in his elbow-chair on one side of the fire, or his brisk little wife chatting and laughing, and constantly bustling in and out of hers, on the other.

Dickens… Nicholas… 1839

… she looked brisk with impatience, laughing a low laugh…

G. Meredith… The Shaving… 1856

'Beg pardon, sir,' said a brisk waiter, rubbing the table. 'Wish see bed-room?'

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

-) b. (Of the action or of the motion of an animated being) done with quickness, promptness or activity.

-) Translation: activo, in Spanish; actif, in French; attivo, in Italian.

The group before him consisted of French and Spanish peasants, the inhabitants of a neighbouring hamlet, some of whom were performing a sprightly dance, the women with castanets in their hands, to the sounds of a lute and a tamborine, till, from the brisk melody of France, the music softened into a slow movement....

A. Radcliffe… The Mysteries… 1794

… they proceeded onward at a brisk pace.

Dickens… Barnaby… 1841

They had some medicine in their chest; and this man of sad experience showed Mark how and when to administer it, and how he could best alleviate the sufferings of Martin. His attentions did not stop there; for he was backwards and forwards constantly, and rendered Mark good service in all his brisk attempts to make their situation more endurable.

Dickens… Martin Chuzzlewit… 1844

"It is wonderful," says Pliny, "how the mind is stirred to activity by brisk bodily exercise."

Pater… Marius… 1885

A brisk tattoo of knuckles on the oaken door stopped him. Bill came in, grinning with satisfaction over something.

Bower… The Gringos… 1913

No one made reply to this; it seemed scarcely worth while. Every man of them rode humped away from the wind, his head drawn down as close to his shoulders as might be. Conversation under those conditions was not likely to become brisk.

Bower… The Happy Family… 1910

The bells pretty well covered our horses from their necks to their haunches, a pair of gallant grays urged to their briskest pace by the driver…

Howells… Familiar Spanish Travels… 1913

-) 2. Metaphor:

-) a. (Of a beverage or a liquor) agreeably sharp; spirited; effervescent.

-) Antonyms: unspirited, insipid, flat, stale.

-) Translation: brusco, in Italian; agréablement spiritueux, in French; agradablemente espiritoso, in Spanish.

And the Bavarian beer, my dear friend, how good and brisk and light it is!

Thackeray… Roundabout Papers… 1860

-) b. (Of the air) fresh, keen.

The air was brisk.  

B. Disraeli… Venetia… 1837

The sun was bright, the air brisk and invigorating.

Thackeray… The History of Pendennis… 1850

-) c. (Of wind, fire, cold, shower, etc) vigorous.

We had been two days almost totally becalmed, when, a brisk gale rising as we were in sight in Dunkirk, we saw a vessel making full sail towards us.

Fielding… Mr. Jonathan Wild… 1743 

… the fire must be brisk and clear.

The Cook and Housewife’s Manual… 1826

A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came on about dusk

Poe… Arthur… 1838

When the entire chimney had thus been raised, and had been properly bound in with outward props, a brisk fire was kindled, and kept going until it was burned to something like a brick-red.

Cooper… The Deerslayer… 1841

A breeze from the north brought this stratum of cloud and, being a little brisk in force, rippled the entire surface of the sea.

Scoresby… Voyage to Australia… 1859

A brisk northeasterly wind was blowing, causing the bosom of the river to flash in ripples of light.

Black… Macleod of Dare… 1878

Mrs. Lander realized when the ship came to anchor in the stream at Liverpool that she had not been seasick a moment during the voyage. In the brisk cold of the winter morning, as they came ashore in the tug, she fancied a property of health in the European atmosphere, which she was sure would bring her right up, if she stayed long enough…

Howells… Ragged Lady… 1899

-) d. (Of a purgative, drug, etc.) drastic.

… as our patient was costive, he was ordered to take five grains of calomel at bed-time, and to follow this with a brisk purgative on the following morning.

The Lancet, edited by Wakley… 1823?

-) e. (Of any fact, as a trade, business, etc., in which interaction of people occurs) characterized by briskness.

It had been a brisk market.

Scott… The Two Drovers… 1827

He walked into the market while they were getting breakfast ready for him at the Inn; and though it was the same market as of old, crowded by the same buyers and sellers; brisk with the same business; noisy with the same confusion of tongues and cluttering of fowls in coops; […]; still it was strangely changed to Tom.

Dickens… Martin… 1844

When the supper, which was very brisk and gay, was over, and Captain Costigan and Mrs. Bolton had partaken of some of the rack-punch that is so fragrant at Vauxhall, the bill was called and discharged by Pen with great generosity… 

Thackeray… The History… 1850

… artificers in wood abounded, and the timber trade was brisk.

T. Hardy… A Changed Man and other Tales… 1913

Their small mill was only adapted for the supply of certain kinds of lumber, for which there was now not much demand, and they had not enough money to remodel it, while business would not get brisk again until the spring.

H. Bindloss… Carmen's Messenger… 1917

-) English words derived from BRISK: brisk (verb), brisken, briskening, briskish, briskly, briskness, brisky, brisked, brisking.

 

 | 

 

/bold-meaning

/bold-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation: bəʊld.  

-) Etymology: from Middle English bald.

-) Comparative form: bolder.

-) Superlative form: boldest.

-) It is dated from the end of 1000.

-) 1. (Of a person or another animal) who manifests boldness or courage; acting without fear or without apparent fear.

-) Synonyms for “bold”: courageous, daring, fearless, intrepid, fearless, dauntless, valiant, audacious.

-) Antonyms of “bold”: timid, fearful, cowardly, shy, timid.

-) Translation: courageux, in French; corajudo, in Spanish; coraggioso, in Italian.

… some of the English being on shore filling their water-casks, the Spaniards became bolder, and watching an opportunity when the sailors were hard at work, poured down with their 200 horse from the hills, slew some of them, and made a few prisoners.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

For many hours the immediate vicinity of the low framework upon which I lay, had been literally swarming with rats. They were wild, bold, ravenous -- their red eyes glaring upon me as if they waited but for motionless on my part to make me their prey.

E. Poe… The Pit… 1842

At first, the ravenous animals were startled and terrified at the change -- at the cessation of movement. They shrank alarmedly back; many sought the well. But this was only for a moment. I had not counted in vain upon their voracity. Observing that I remained without motion, one or two of the boldest leaped upon the framework, and smelt at the surcingle.

E. Poe… The Pit… 1842

… in the western or black chamber the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all. 

E. Poe… The Masque… 1842

I do not believe the boldest of them ever ventured to address a compliment to her.

Carey… Only the governess… 1889

-) To make bold: to venture courageously (to do a thing):

About an hour ago, I made bold to thrust myself among a group of the crew. 

E. Poe… MS. Found in a Bottle… 1833

We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow.

E. Poe… The Cask… 1846

-) 2. (Of a personal action) manifesting boldness or courage.

-) Synonyms: daring, brave.

On our walks, we were unmolested, […] but their conduct was bolder and more unconcerned than that of the Taheitians.

R. Kerr… Voyages and Travels… 1824

The method of the theft was not less ingenious than bold.

E. Poe… The Purloined Letter… 1844

-) 3. (Of something corporeal) standing prominently as if boldly.

One of the places was in the cliff of the sea, about half way down from the summit, in a strong bold vein, containing some copper ore.

J. Williams… Natural History… 1789

It contains five figures in bold relief, each twenty-four inches high.

The Gentleman's Magazine… 1842

-) 4. -) a. (Of a coast, shore, etc.) steep; abrupt; rising steeply from deep water. -) b. (Of water near a steep shore) deep.

There are no shoals or other dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the water deep.

E. Poe… The Narrative… 1838

… the ocean is as deep there as might have been anticipated in the neighbourhood of a bold coast.

C. Lyel… Principles of geology… 1840

The depth of the ocean around the coast, from three to four miles distance from the shore, is generally from twenty to thirty fathoms, and bold water extends close to the cliffs and shores.

Haliburton… An historical and statistical account… 1829

-) Words derived from “bold”: boldly, boldness.

 

 | 

 

/astir-meaning

/astir-meaning-etymology

-) Adjective.

-) Pronunciation and accent: əstɜː(r). 

-) Etymology: it is analysed into “a” (prep.) + “stir” (noun).

-) It is dated from 1800.

-) Meaning: -) 1. Stirring; in a state of manifest activity.

-) Found mainly in old-fashioned literature.

-) Synonyms: active, moving.

-) Antonyms: quiet, resting, motionless.

-) Translation: actif, in French; activo, in Spanish; attivo, in Italian.

All was astir in an instant. Robin Hood and his merry men, with the morris-dancers, rushed out of their bowers, and the whole churchyard was in agitation.

W. Ainsworth… The Lancashire Witches 1848

In the camp all was quiet—indeed, a stillness unusual and portentous seemed resting upon it. No sports were in progress, no one was astir.

J. Orton… Camp Fires… 1855

He rose, took his shoes in his hand, turned the key in the door with great caution, and crept downstairs. Nothing was astir there but the smell of coffee, wine, tobacco, and syrups.

Dickens… Little Dorrit… 1857

Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas were astir with warlike preparations.

W. Hunt… History of England… 1905

-) 2. In particular: (of someone after his night rest) out of bed, up.

-) Found mainly in old-fashioned literature.

-) Antonyms: abed, asleep.

… by daylight we were astir, and preparing for our expedition.

W. Thomes… The gold hunters’ adventures… 1890

Alan was astir early next morning. He made his toilet with unusual thought and care for his personal appearance.

E. Cox… Out of the Silence… 1919