All 11 Uses of
wary
in
The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Pope)
- The unwary Greeks his fury may provoke; Not thus the king in secret council spoke.†
Book 2unwary = not careful about possible danger or deceptionstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unwary means not and reverses the meaning of wary. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- The wary Trojan, bending from the blow, Eludes the death, and disappoints his foe: But fierce Atrides waved his sword, and strook Full on his casque: the crested helmet shook; The brittle steel, unfaithful to his hand, Broke short: the fragments glitter'd on the sand.†
Book 3wary = careful, nervous, or distrustful
- The wary Trojan shrinks, and bending low Beneath his buckler, disappoints the blow.†
Book 7 *
- With that they stepp'd aside, and stoop'd their head, (As Dolon pass'd,) behind a heap of dead: Along the path the spy unwary flew; Soft, at just distance, both the chiefs pursue.†
Book 10unwary = not careful about possible danger or deceptionstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unwary means not and reverses the meaning of wary. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- but thy flight, this day, Whole hecatombs of Trojan ghosts shall pay," Him, while he triumph'd, Paris eyed from far, (The spouse of Helen, the fair cause of war;) Around the fields his feather'd shafts he sent, From ancient Ilus' ruin'd monument: Behind the column placed, he bent his bow, And wing'd an arrow at the unwary foe; Just as he stoop'd, Agastrophus's crest To seize, and drew the corslet from his breast, The bowstring twang'd; nor flew the shaft in vain, But pierced his foot, and nail'd it to the plain.†
Book 11
- Yet should the fears that wary mind suggests Spread their cold poison through our soldiers' breasts, My javelin can revenge so base a part, And free the soul that quivers in thy heart.†
Book 12wary = careful, nervous, or distrustful
- He said; and roused the soul in every breast: Urged with desire of fame, beyond the rest, Forth march'd Deiphobus; but, marching, held Before his wary steps his ample shield.†
Book 13
- The wary Cretan, as his foe drew near, Full on his throat discharged the forceful spear: Beneath the chin the point was seen to glide, And glitter'd, extant at the further side.†
Book 13
- Atrides, watchful of the unwary foe, Pierced with his lance the hand that grasp'd the bow.†
Book 13unwary = not careful about possible danger or deceptionstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unwary means not and reverses the meaning of wary. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- Bear close to this, and warily proceed, A little bending to the left-hand steed; But urge the right, and give him all the reins; While thy strict hand his fellow's head restrains, And turns him short; till, doubling as they roll, The wheel's round naves appear to brush the goal.†
Book 23warily = in a nervous or distrustful manner
- At length Epeus dealt a weighty blow Full on the cheek of his unwary foe; Beneath that ponderous arm's resistless sway Down dropp'd he, nerveless, and extended lay.†
Book 23unwary = not careful about possible danger or deceptionstandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unwary means not and reverses the meaning of wary. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
Definition:
careful or nervous about something