Dictionary

incautious en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˈkɑʃəs/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English cautious English incautious From in- (negative prefix) + cautious.

Meanings

1. careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution.
   • "You might have remained so still," replies Jones, "if you had not been unfortunate, I will venture to say incautious, in the placing your affections. 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XV, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VIII:
   • "Yes, let 'Sister' Davis have a whack at it too," urged George Bland. Tom Davis, who was Joe Matson's particular chum, was designated "Sister" because, in an incautious moment, when first coming to Excelsior Hall, he had shown a picture of his very pretty sister, Mabel. 1912, Stratemeyer Syndicate, chapter 1, in Baseball Joe on the School Nine:
   • Pot-plants on spindle-legged stands lurked in wait for an incautious gesture. 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 60:

Forms

Deriveds

incautiousness · incautiously

Relateds

incaution

Synonyms

uncautious

Translations (13)

pt incauto (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · pl nieostrożny (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · la incautus (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · fr négligent (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · de unvorsichtig (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · ca incaut (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · ro neatent (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · fr imprudent (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · gv neuhwoaieagh (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · ga anfhaiteach (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · nl onvoorzichtig (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · bg непредпазлив (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution) · fi varomaton (careless, reckless, not exercising proper caution)