chary adj : characterized by great cautious and wariness; "a cagey avoidance of a definite answer"; "chary of the risks involved"; "a chary investor" [syn: cagey, cagy] [also: chariest, charier]

English

Etymology

From ċeariġ.

Pronunciation

• /ʧɛːɹi/
• Rhymes with: -ɛːri

Adjective

1. Sad, grievous.
2. Cautious, wary, shy, ungenerous.
   • act 1 scene 3 lines 35-36

     The chariest maid is prodigal enough

     If she unmasks her beauty to the moon.

   • Shakespeare, Sonnet number 22 lines 11-12

     Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary

     As tender nurse her babe from faring ill

   • 2007, Stephen R. Donaldson, Fatal Revenant, ISBN 978-0-399-15446-1 Page 182

     "...When Lord Berek speaks with you and your companions alone, as he must, be chary in your replies."

Translations

Scotch, cagey, calculating, canny, careful, cheeseparing, circumspect, conserving, considerate, constrained, discreet, disinclined, distrustful, economic, economical, economizing, forehanded, frugal, gingerly, guarded, hesitant, inhibited, labor-saving, leery, loath, mistrustful, money-saving, parsimonious, penny-wise, provident, prudent, prudential, reluctant, restrained, safe, saving, scrimping, shy, skimping, spare, sparing, suspecting, suspicious, thrifty, time-saving, unwasteful, wary