I’ve lamented before that by the time we realize a word is slipping away, it’s too late to save it. I fear that is happening with “wary.”
Now I know that my regular readership is highly intelligent. Furthermore, several of you make a living with the English language. Consequently this is not likely to be an error you would make. However, it remains necessary for me to place this material on the Internet. I must think of future Googlers who seek the correct path on this issue, lest my grim assessment of the situation prove too pessimistic and the word can, in fact, be saved. I thank you for your indulgence.
I’m a giver.
Now, in their most common usages, “weary” means tired, and “wary” means suspicious. If Felix is weary of the auditors, he’s tired of them. If he’s wary of them, he’s suspicious of them.
And really, I think this is where the decay is occurring. There are just too many things of which one can reasonably and expectedly be weary and wary. Think about it. Nobody likes to feel suspicious. So if you experience suspicion on an ongoing basis, aren’t you likely to get tired of it? Conversely, if you’re tired, mightn’t you be more likely to indulge some latent mild paranoia and begin to suspect, you know, people? Of stuff?
You know, it just might be the case that being wary makes one more likely to be weary, and vice versa.
Just do the best you can. Please.
Think of the children.
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Jeff misuses it all the time…drives me batshit. He says that “wary” and “leery” cause him to say “weary” when he means “wary.”
Also…he says “flat as a flitter” which makes no sense. FRITTERS are flat…flitter isn’t even a noun. Sigh.
Oh…and while I’m ranting…you know the Grub Mart out on Friendship Road???? Their sign says “We sale bread.” That makes my teeth hurt every time I drive by.
I haven’t heard that one too much as I think both words have been slipping out of style in general. Nobody is weary any more, they’re just tired.
I do have a dear friend (who is otherwise very intelligent) who insists on saying she needs to nip certain behavior “in the butt”. Unless she’s a half blind sheep dog I’m fairly sure that saying makes no sense whatsoever.
However, the one that drives me absolutely batty is “irregardless”. People use it interchangeably with “regardless” without understanding that the whole “ir” thing has a negating effect. I’ve given up completely on trying to explain it since it’s so prevalent.
I love doing these posts, partially because I love hearing others’ peeves! Hugs, ladies!