circumspect

[sur-kuhm-spekt] Origin

cir·cum·spect

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

Origin:
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

cir·cum·spect·ly, adverb
cir·cum·spect·ness, noun
non·cir·cum·spect, adjective
non·cir·cum·spect·ly, adverb
non·cir·cum·spect·ness, noun
EXPAND
o·ver·cir·cum·spect, adjective
un·cir·cum·spect, adjective
un·cir·cum·spect·ly, adverb
un·cir·cum·spect·ness, noun
COLLAPSE


1. careful, vigilant, guarded.


1. careless, indiscreet.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Circumspect is a TOEFL word you need to know.
So is recess. Does it mean:
disregard or overlook
temporary withdrawal or break from the usual work or activity
Collins
World English Dictionary
circumspect (ˈsɜːkəmˌspɛkt)
 
adj
cautious, prudent, or discreet
 
[C15: from Latin circumspectus, from circum- + specere to look]
 
circum'spection
 
n
 
circum'spective
 
adj
 
'circumspectly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

circumspect
early 15c. (circumspection is attested from late 14c.), from L. circumspectus, pp. of circumspicere "look around, take heed," from circum- "around" + specere "to look" (see scope (1)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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