Main Entry: wary

Pronunciation: \ˈwer-ē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): war·i·er; war·i·est

Etymology: ¹ware, from Middle English war, ware, from Old English wær careful, aware, wary; akin to Old High German giwar aware, attentive, Latin vereri to fear, Greek horan to see

Date: 15th century

: marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger

synonyms see cautious

— war·i·ly \ˈwer-ə-lē\ adverb

— war·i·ness \ˈwer-ē-nəs\ noun