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circumspect

[sur-kuhm-spekt]
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adjective
  1. watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior.
  2. well-considered: circumspect ambition.
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Origin of circumspect

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin circumspectus (past participle of circumspicere to look around), equivalent to circum- circum- + spec(ere) to look + -tus past participle suffix
Related formscir·cum·spect·ly, adverbcir·cum·spect·ness, nounnon·cir·cum·spect, adjectivenon·cir·cum·spect·ly, adverbnon·cir·cum·spect·ness, nouno·ver·cir·cum·spect, adjectiveun·cir·cum·spect, adjectiveun·cir·cum·spect·ly, adverbun·cir·cum·spect·ness, noun

Synonyms

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1. careful, vigilant, guarded.

Antonyms

1. careless, indiscreet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

warilydelicatelythoroughlylaboriouslygingerlyfaithfullydeliberatelycorrectlyfullyscrupulouslypreciselydiscreetlyrigorouslyanxiouslyconscientiouslymeticulouslyprudentlyattentivelyhesitantlycautiously

Examples from the Web for circumspectly

Historical Examples

  • "If The Dutchan wins you get the money," replied the Trainer, circumspectly.

    Thoroughbreds

    W. A. Fraser

  • Akh, Sergyi Petrvitch, when I think of it, how circumspectly we women must behave!

    A Nobleman's Nest

    Ivan Turgenieff

  • Thus with seamen: he who goes the oftenest round Cape Horn goes the most circumspectly.

  • He started off circumspectly and noiselessly, listening and peering at every step.

    The War in the Air

    Herbert George Wells

  • Then he turned on his light, circumspectly, directing its rays to the ground at his feet.

British Dictionary definitions for circumspectly

circumspect

adjective
  1. cautious, prudent, or discreet
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Derived Formscircumspection, nouncircumspective, adjectivecircumspectly, adverb

Word Origin

C15: from Latin circumspectus, from circum- + specere to look
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for circumspectly

circumspect

adj.

early 15c., from Latin circumspectus "deliberate, guarded, well-considered," past participle of circumspicere "look around, take heed," from circum- "around" (see circum-) + specere "to look" (see scope (n.1)). Related: Circumspectly; circumspectness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper