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Webster 1913 Edition


Careful

Care′ful

(kâr′fụl)
,
Adj.
[AS.
cearful
.]
1.
Full of care; anxious; solicitous.
[Archaic]
Be
careful
[Rev. Ver. “anxious”] for nothing.
Phil. iv. 6.
The
careful
plowman doubting stands.
Milton.
2.
Filling with care or solicitude; exposing to concern, anxiety, or trouble; painful.
The
careful
cold beginneth for to creep.
Spenser.
By Him that raised me to this
careful
height.
Shakespeare
3.
Taking care; giving good heed; watchful; cautious; provident; not indifferent, heedless, or reckless; – often followed by of, for, or the infinitive;
as,
careful
of money;
careful
to do right
.
Thou hast been careful for us with all this care.
2. Kings iv, 13.
Syn. – Anxious; solicitous; provident; thoughtful; cautious; circumspect; heedful; watchful; vigilant.

Webster 1828 Edition


Careful

CAREFUL

,
Adj.
[See Care.]
1.
Full of care; anxious; solicitous.
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. Luke 10.
2.
Provident; attentive to support and protect; with of or for.
Thou hast been careful for us with all care. 2 Kings 4.
What could a careful father more have done. Dryden.
In present usage careful is generally followed by of; as, careful of health.
3.
Watchful; cautious; giving good heed; as, be careful to maintain good works; be careful of your conversation.
4.
Filling with care or solicitude; exposing to concern, anxiety or trouble; full of cares.
Raised to a careful height.

Definition 2024


careful

careful

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

careful (comparative more careful, superlative most careful)

  1. (obsolete) Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad.
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Bk.V:
      ‘Alas,’ sayde Sir Cadore, ‘now carefull is myne herte that now lyeth dede my cosyn that I beste loved.’
  2. (obsolete) Full of cares or anxiety; worried, troubled.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.1:
      Where through long watch, and late daies weary toile, / She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.
  3. Having care (for); attentive to potential danger, error or harm; cautious.
    He was a slow and careful driver.
  4. Conscientious and painstaking; meticulous.
    They made a careful search of the crime scene.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:cautious
  • See also Wikisaurus:meticulous

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations