wary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   careful and cautious because you sense possible danger or trouble

   He was wary of strangers who came to the door at night.

2. 2
   adj

   not trusting someone or something fully

   Investors remain wary of putting money into the struggling company.

From Middle English warien, from Old English wierġan (“to curse, do evil”), from Proto-West Germanic *wargijan, from Proto-Germanic *wargijaną (“to condemn, curse”), from Proto-Germanic *wargaz (“criminal”). Doublet of warry.

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