careful

Alternative forms

• carefull (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English careful, from Old English carful, ċearful (“careful, anxious, curious, troubled”), equivalent to care +‎ -ful.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɛːfəl/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

careful (comparative more careful, superlative most careful)

1. (obsolete) Full of care or grief; sorrowful, sad.
   • 1485 July 31, Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], (please specify the book number), [London: William Caxton], OCLC 71490786; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur, London: Published by David Nutt, in the Strand, 1889, OCLC 890162034:
     , 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.