Chary
/ˈtʃɛəri/noun
Cautious, wary, or reluctant to act or give.
Did you know?The word comes from Old English *cearu* meaning “care, anxiety, sorrow,” so hidden inside “chary” is an ancient idea of being weighed down by worry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵer-
“to desire, want, or care for”
Old English
OE
cearu
“care, anxiety, sorrow”
Middle English
ME
chari
“careful, anxious, wary”
14th–15th Century
English
chary
“cautious, reluctant, or sparing”
Modern English
English
chary
“careful, wary, or unwilling to do something”