Wary, Weary, Leery or Leary?
Dan or I were discussing these words this weekend and weren't clear on the distinctions. So I figured I'd post this as a public service in case others were unclear as well. I think a lot of times common usage distorts my hunches on correct usage.
wary |ˈwe(ə)rē| |ˌwɛri| |ˌwɛːri|
adjective ( warier |ˌwɛriər|, wariest |ˌwɛri1st|)
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems : dogs that have been mistreated often remain very wary of strangers | a wary look. See note at vigilant .
DERIVATIVES
warily |-rəlē| |ˌwɛ(ə)rəli| adverb
wariness |ˌwɛ(ə)rin1s| noun
ORIGIN late 15th cent.: from ware 2 + -y 1
weary |ˈwi(ə)rē| |ˌwɪ(ə)ri| |ˌwɪəri|
adjective ( wearier |ˌwɪ(ə)riər|, weariest |ˌwɪ(ə)ri1st|)
feeling or showing tiredness, esp. as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep : he gave a long, weary sigh. See note at tired .
• reluctant to see or experience any more of; tired of : she was weary of their constant arguments | [in combination ] war-weary Americans.
• calling for a great amount of energy or endurance; tiring and tedious : the weary journey began again.
leery |ˈli(ə)rē| |ˌlɪri| |ˌlɪəri|
adjective ( leerier, leeriest)
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions : a city leery of gang violence.
DERIVATIVES
leeriness |ˌlɪ(ə)rin1s| noun
ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from obsolete leer [looking askance,] from leer + -y 1 .
Leary |ˈli(ə)rē| |ˌlɪəri| |ˈlɪəri|
Leary, Timothy (Francis)(1920-96), U.S. psychologist. After experimenting with consciousness-altering drugs, including LSD, he was dismissed from his teaching job at Harvard University in 1963 and became a figurehead for the hippie drug culture.
wary |ˈwe(ə)rē| |ˌwɛri| |ˌwɛːri|
adjective ( warier |ˌwɛriər|, wariest |ˌwɛri1st|)
feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems : dogs that have been mistreated often remain very wary of strangers | a wary look. See note at vigilant .
DERIVATIVES
warily |-rəlē| |ˌwɛ(ə)rəli| adverb
wariness |ˌwɛ(ə)rin1s| noun
ORIGIN late 15th cent.: from ware 2 + -y 1
weary |ˈwi(ə)rē| |ˌwɪ(ə)ri| |ˌwɪəri|
adjective ( wearier |ˌwɪ(ə)riər|, weariest |ˌwɪ(ə)ri1st|)
feeling or showing tiredness, esp. as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep : he gave a long, weary sigh. See note at tired .
• reluctant to see or experience any more of; tired of : she was weary of their constant arguments | [in combination ] war-weary Americans.
• calling for a great amount of energy or endurance; tiring and tedious : the weary journey began again.
leery |ˈli(ə)rē| |ˌlɪri| |ˌlɪəri|
adjective ( leerier, leeriest)
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions : a city leery of gang violence.
DERIVATIVES
leeriness |ˌlɪ(ə)rin1s| noun
ORIGIN late 17th cent.: from obsolete leer [looking askance,] from leer + -y 1 .
Leary |ˈli(ə)rē| |ˌlɪəri| |ˈlɪəri|
Leary, Timothy (Francis)(1920-96), U.S. psychologist. After experimenting with consciousness-altering drugs, including LSD, he was dismissed from his teaching job at Harvard University in 1963 and became a figurehead for the hippie drug culture.