Wary, suspicious, or careful about something; not quite trusting.
Variant spelling of 'leery,' possibly from Dutch 'loor' (lurking place) or sailor slang. The origin is uncertain but emerged in 1700s English meaning cautious or evasive.
Sailors might have used 'leery' to mean staying alert and watching for danger—if you're 'leary' of someone, you're keeping your eyes open and maintaining distance, like you're ready to defend yourself.
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