Chary

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈtʃɛəɹi/
• US IPA: /ˈtʃɛəɹi/
• US IPA: /ˈtʃɛɹi/ in accents with the w, English-language_vowel_changes_before_historic_/r/#Mary.E2.80.93marry.E2.80.93merry_merger, "Mary, marry, merry" merger
• Rhymes: -ɛəɹi
• Homophones: cherry in accents with the w, English-language_vowel_changes_before_historic_/r/#Mary.E2.80.93marry.E2.80.93merry_merger, "Mary, marry, merry" merger

Origin

From Middle English chary, from Old English ċeariġ ("careful, sorrowful, pensive, wary, chary, anxious, grievous, dire"), from Proto-Germanic *karagaz ("anxious, sad"), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵār- ("voice, exclamation"), equivalent to care + -y. Cognate with Dutch karig ("scant, sparing, austere"), German karg ("meagre, barren, poor") and Norwegian karrig ("meagre, barren, poor"). More at care.

Full definition of chary

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Sad; sorrowful; grievous.
2. Disposed to cherish with care; careful.
3. Cautious; wary; shy.
• Shakespeare Hamlet act 1 scene 3 lines 35-36The chariest maid is prodigal enough
  If she unmasks her beauty to the moon.
• 1598, Shakespeare, lines 11-12Bearing 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."
4. Sparing; not lavish; not disposed to give freely; frugal; ungenerous.
• 1911, Old Residence and Two Portraits of Chief Justice Marshall
• 1918