Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

chary

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɛːri/
Definition of chary

adjective (charier, chariest)

  • cautiously or suspiciously reluctant to do something:she had been chary of telling the whole truth

Derivatives

charily

adverb

Origin:

Old English cearig 'sorrowful, anxious', of West Germanic origin; related to care. The current sense arose in the mid 16th century

chary in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of chary in the US English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …