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circumspect

 - 3 dictionary results

cir⋅cum⋅spect

  [sur-kuhm-spekt]
Use circumspect in a Sentence
–adjective
1. watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior.
2. well-considered: circumspect ambition.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L circumspectus (ptp. of circumspicere to look around), equiv. to circum- circum- + spec(ere) to look + -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
cir⋅cum⋅spect⋅ly, adverb
cir⋅cum⋅spect⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. careful, vigilant, guarded.

Antonyms:
1. careless, indiscreet.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To circumspect
cir·cum·spect   (sûr'kəm-spěkt')   
adj.  Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.

[Middle English, from Latin circumspectus, past participle of circumspicere, to take heed : circum-, circum- + specere, to look; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
cir'cum·spect'ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

circumspect 
1422 (circumspection is attested from 1387), from L. circumspectus, pp. of circumspicere "look around, take heed," from circum- "around" + specere "to look" (see scope (1)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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