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Added 9 October 2026

careful

/ˈkɛɹfəl/ adjective

In Latin: curiosus, cautus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about careful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Taking care; attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious.
He was a slow and careful driver.
Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous.
They made a careful search of the crime scene.
Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad.

Origin

From Middle English careful, from Old English carful; equivalent to care + -ful.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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