Cautelous
/ˈkɔː.tə.ləs/noun
Careful and wary; marked by caution or prudent distrust.
Did you know?Cautelous descends from Latin cautela, which could mean both “caution” and “a trick or ruse,” showing how ancient languages often linked prudence with suspicion.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cautela
“caution, precaution; also a trick or ruse”
Late Latin
Latin
cautelōsus
“full of caution; wary, careful”
Middle English
English
cautelous
“cautious, prudent, wary”
Modern English
English
cautelous
“careful and wary”
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