carefully

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   taking care or paying attention

   they watched carefully

2. 2
   adv

   Sorrowfully.

   […] there was she faine / To call them all in order to her ayde, / And them conjure, upon eternall paine, / To counsell her, so carefully dismayd, / How she might heale her sonne […]

3. 3
   adv

   With care; attentively, circumspectly.

   As he was a politician, he discussed all subjects carefully, not offending anyone.

4. 4
   adv

   as if with kid gloves

5. 5
   adv

   Conscientiously, painstakingly, fastidiously, meticulously

Etymology

From Middle English carfulli, carefulliche, from Old English carfullīċe, ċearfullīċe (“carefully, diligently”), equivalent to careful + -ly.