carful

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English carful (cartful), equivalent to car +‎ -ful. Shift in meaning follows that of "cart" to modern senses of car. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Koareful (a cartful), West Frisian karfol (a cartful), German Karrevoll (a cartful).

Noun

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carful (plural carfuls or carsful)

  1. As much as a car will hold. (Usually with reference to an automobile; sometimes with reference to a railroad car, especially in 19th-century texts.)
    Coordinate terms: carload (sometimes synonymous); busful, planeful, trailerful, truckful, vanful, wagonful
    Tourists were arriving by the carful.

Anagrams

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From caru +‎ -ful.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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carful

  1. anxious
  2. careful
  3. mindful
    • c. 992, Ælfric, "The Assumption of St. John the Apostle"
      Drusiana þa ārās swilce of slæpe āwreht, and, carfull be ðæs apostoles hæse, hām ġewende.
      Drusiana then arose as if from sleep awakened, and, mindful of the apostle's command, returned home.

Declension

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Middle English: careful