cautelous

English

Etymology

From Middle French cauteleux.

Adjective

cautelous (comparative more cautelous, superlative most cautelous)

  1. (obsolete) Skillful in trickery or deception; cunning, wily.
    • 1644, John Milton, Aeropagitica:
      I am not able to unfold, how this cautelous enterprise of licencing can be exempted from the number of vain and impossible attempts.
  2. (obsolete) Cautious, careful.
    • 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, in Kupperman 1988, p. 140:
      Some are of disposition fearefull, some bold, most cautelous, all Savage.
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