careful English · revision 4366

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=a. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkeə.fəl/, US /ˈker.fəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|carful]], cearful, formed from caru, cearu “care, sorrow”, the source of [[care]], and [[-ful]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Full of grief, mournful, sorrowful”, and “full of care or anxiety”: before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “applying attention, painstaking”, the main modern one, is from late Old English,^(Etymonline) about 1050 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and “taking good care of” is also from before 1000.^(OED 1989) In Middle English it also meant miserable or unfortunate, and of things causing fear, dreadful;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a careful-bed was a sickbed and careful-day the day of judgement.^(Etymonline) The sense of grief died out in the early 18th century,^(SOED 2002) and “anxious, troubled” is now archaic.^(SOED 2002)^(MW Collegiate) “Cautious, on one's guard” is from 1580,^(OED 1989) and of things, done with care, from 1651.^(OED 1989) Johnson in 1755 gave first “anxious; solicitous; full of concern”, quoting “Martha, thou art careful”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1000 – mournful; anxious.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1050 – painstaking.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1200 – of things, sorrowful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1580 – cautious.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1651 – done with care.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 18th century – sorrowful sense obsolete.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Attentive to possible danger, error or harm; [[cautious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Thorough and painstaking; [[conscientious]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Protective or concerned: ''careful of others' feelings''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Full of cares; anxious.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[carefully]]

+ * [[carefulness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[care]]

+ * [[careless]]

+ * [[caring]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage groups careful with heedful, mindful, observant, watchful and meticulous, all meaning “cautiously attentive”.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}