circumspect
- Wary and careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences before acting or speaking.
In a sentence
- A good financial adviser is circumspect before recommending high-risk investments to clients.
- She was circumspect in her public statements, knowing that any misstep could damage the negotiations.
Usage note. Do not confuse 'circumspect' with 'cynical' or 'suspicious'; it emphasizes thoughtful caution rather than distrust of others.
Where it comes from
English circumspect · entered English 15th c.
From Latin 'circumspectus', past participle of 'circumspicere' (to look around), composed of 'circum' (around) and 'specere' (to look). It entered English in the 15th century via medieval Latin usage in legal and ecclesiastical texts.