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.

Related terms

• cautel
• cautelously
• cautelousness