Cautious or wary about something; reluctant to trust or take risks; showing careful attention to potential danger.
From Old English ceorl, related to Middle Low German karisch. The word originally related to sorrow or anxiety, evolving to mean cautious and wary. It's related to 'care' in expressing concern and wariness.
Even though 'chary' is rarely used in modern everyday speech, it appears constantly in classical literature and legal documents—it's the sophisticated cousin of 'wary,' adding a note of formal caution.
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