English edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

leery (comparative leerier, superlative leeriest)

  1. Cautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous about something; having reservations or concerns.
    Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of animals.
  2. (of a look or smile) Lecherous.
    • 1902, Francis Hopkinson Smith, chapter X, in The Fortunes of Oliver Horn[1]:
      And there was a particularly brutal villain with leery eyes, ugly mouth, with one tooth gone, and an iron jaw like a hull-dog's.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Further reading edit

  • [Francis] Grose [et al.] (1811), “Leery”, in Lexicon Balatronicum. A Dictionary of Buckish Slang, University Wit, and Pickpocket Eloquence. [], London: [] C. Chappell, [], →OCLC.

Anagrams edit