a. Forms: 1 ceariʓ, -eʓ, ceari, 3 chariȝ, 5 charry, (6 chearie, cheyrye, chairie, 7 chairy), 6–7 charie, 6– chary. [OE. ceariʓ = OS. carag (in môdcarag), OHG. charag:—OTeut. type *karag-oz, f. karâ- sorrow, trouble, care. With the sense-development cf. CAREFUL.
The palatalization of initial ca- in this word, while it remains guttural in CARE, is thus accounted for: in the sb. the original OE. type was nom. caru, gen. *cære, whence ceare (cf. cæster, ceaster etc.); so app. the derivative *cæriʓ, whence ceariʓ, with palatal ce- becoming ch-. But the sb. retained guttural c in the nom. (even when by u- umlaut it was occasionally written cearu), so that no such form as chare is found in ME. As to sense 3 cf. CHARE a.]
† 1. Causing sorrow, grievous. Obs.
a. 1000. Doomsday, 67 (Gr.). Wæs Meotud on beam bunden fæste cearian clomme.
† 2. Feeling or showing sorrow; sorrowful, mournful. Obs.
a. 1000. Crist, 148 (Gr.). Hie bidon hwonne bearn Godes cwome to ceariʓum.
a. 1000. Soul’s Address, 162 (Gr.). Ne þurfon wyt beon cearie.
c. 1200. Ormin, 1274. For turrtle ledeþþ chariȝ lif … fra þatt hire make iss dæd.
† 3. Dear; precious, cherished. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2965. Ffore the charry childe so his chere chawngide, That the chillande watire one his chekes rynnyde!
1593. Peele, Edw. I., 200. And henceforth see you call it Charing-cross; For why, the chariest and the choicest queen, That ever did delight my royal eyes There dwells.
a. 1600. W. Elderton, in Farr’s S. P. Eliz., II. 514. O God, what griefe is this thye charie church should want A bishoppe of so good a grace.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 253. Things of charie price.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxix. Fill the stirrup cup … from a butt yet charier than that which he had pierced for the former stoup.
4. Careful, cautious, circumspect, wary.
1542. Udall, trans. Erasm. Apoph., 221 b. I am much more charie, that it may not be lost.
1566. Answ. Examination pretending to mayntayne Apparell, etc. 148. Those prudent and chairie ouerseers which tythe mint and anice.
1625–8. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz. I … have not touched them but with a light and chary hand.
1857. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., II. 343. Yet, in this concession, he was very chary.
1878. G. Macdonald, Phantastes, II. xiii. 15. Enough to madden a chary lover.
b. Fastidious, shy, particular.
1567. Drant, Horace’s Epist., II. ii. H iv. Whilste theye indite, and reade theire toyes, Moste chearie and most coy.
1592. Greene, Ciceronis Amor. Man having swilled in this nectar of Love is so chary that he … admitteth no partaker of her favours.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 36. The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough, If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone.
1834. Mudie, Brit. Birds (1841), I. 114. Another [eagle] … not quite so chary in its food as the former.
c. Const. in, of. Shy of, disinclined to.
1579. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (1884), 66. To be very chary and circumspect in opening himselfe.
1673. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. Wks. (1875), II. 253. Men ought to be chary of aspersing them [the clergy].
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, vi. Chary of mixing in causeless strife.
1883. C. Cameron, in 19th Cent., May, 882. Crown authorities were very chary in putting it into force.
1884. Law Times, 16 Feb., 278/1. Tradesmen chary of allowing vessels to leave port prior to payment.
5. Careful (in preservation of). Const. of, † over.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 58. If you be chary of your good name.
1598. Greene, James IV. (1861), 219. With chary care I have recur’d the one.
1598. Yong, Diana, 390. Her father was so tender and charie ouer her, that few times he suffered her to be out of his sight.
1638. Cowley, Love’s Riddle, I. i. ’Faith, I am very Chary of my Health.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 221. The curious sea-chest of glasses…, which I shall be very chary to keep as a monument of your love.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, III. viii. 56. Be chary of them, and return them when perused.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxiv. In reference to your safety and comfort, of which he desires us to be chary.
6. Careful not to waste or part with, frugal, sparing (of).
1570. Levins, Manip., 106. Cheyrye, parcus.
1592. Greene, Disput., 4. Hee that is most charie of his crownes abroad.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 154. We are told of their kings, that they drank nothing but water; of which they were very chary, as well as cautious in their choice.
1826. Scott, Woodst., iii. They were more chary of their royal presence.
1868. Miss Braddon, Dead-sea Fruit, I. ii. 20. He had much need to be careful of shillings, and chary even of pence.
1872. Minto, Eng. Lit., II. vii. 478. He is rather chary than enthusiastic.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol. vii. 266. The primitive barbarian … would have been extremely chary in his use of words.
† 7. Requiring care or careful handling. Obs.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, v. (1887), 28. The cheife and chariest point is, so to plie them all, as they may proceede voluntarily.
8. quasi-adv. Charily; carefully.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., vi. 175. Thanks, Mephistophilis, for this sweet book, This will I keep as chary as my life.
a. 1600. W. Elderton, in Farr’s S. P. Eliz., II. 513. And charie went to churche himself.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., xxii. Which I will keepe so chary, As tender nurse her babe.
1633. Heywood, Eng. Trav., III. Wks. 1874, IV. 44. Let men liue as charie as they can.
a. 1845. Hood, Mary’s Ghost, v. You thought that I was buried deep, Quite decent like, and chary.
