leery

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

First attested in 1718, “untrustful, suspicious”, either from leer (“sideward look”) + -y, lear (“learning, knowledge”) + -y. More at leer, lear.

I’ve looked into the fellow’s eye and seen a leery old badger at the bottom of it. — The Amazing Marriage — Complete, George Meredith
He twirled his Calabrian headpiece in his hands, and let his leery eyes wander about the walls. — The Goose Man, Jakob Wassermann
Well, William had to turn about and play on, willy-nilly; and ’twas only three o’clock in the world, and ’a knowed that nobody would come that way for hours, and he so leery and tired that ’a didn’t know what to do. — Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman, Thomas Hardy

mistrustful, suspicious, untrusting, wary

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