M-W's Word of the Day Newsletter: Circumspect - plus, a new word family quiz


Published by M-W's Word of the Day on June 2nd, 2019 2:18am. 117 views.


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Merriam-Webster since 1828

 
 
Merriam-Webster  
 
WORD OF THE DAY
June 2, 2019
 
 
 
 
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circumspect Audio pronunciation

 
adjective | SER-kum-spekt  
 
Definition
 
:
careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences : prudent
 
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Circumspect, cautious, wary, and chary all imply looking before you leap, but each puts a unique spin on being careful in the face of risk or danger. Circumspect, which descends from Latin circum- ("around") and specere ("to look"), implies the surveying of all possible consequences before acting or deciding (as in "he is circumspect in business dealings"). Cautious suggests fear of danger and the exercise of forethought that it prompts (as in "a cautious driver"). Wary emphasizes suspiciousness and alertness in sensing danger and cunning in escaping it (as in "keep a wary eye on the competition"). Chary implies a cautious reluctance to give, act, or speak freely (as in "she is chary of signing papers without reading them first").
 
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Examples of CIRCUMSPECT
 
"The response in several previously frozen markets for short-term financing was extremely positive, and stock investors were jubilant. However, the reaction in longer-term fixed income and commodities markets, especially for gold, has been more circumspect."
James C. Cooper, Business Week, 8 Oct. 2007
 
"… Churchill resisted the idea of Britain participating as a member of the European Community. He looked upon such entanglements as detrimental to the British Empire he loved. He was even circumspect of their membership in NATO."
Don Cassiday, The Sahuarita (Arizona) Sun, 30 Mar. 2019
 
Word Family Quiz
 
Unscramble the letters to create the name of a diviner in ancient Rome (derived from Latin specere) who makes predictions based on the inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals: EHAXPUSR.
 
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