circumspect
cautious and careful
Roots
- circum: around
- spec / spic: look or see
Other words with the spec / spic root
- conspicuous: easy to notice or clearly visible
- inspection: careful looking or examination
- perspicacious: keenly perceptive
- perspicacity: keenness of understanding or insight
- specious: seemingly plausible but actually misleading
- spectacle: something striking to see
- spectacles: glasses used for seeing
Circum gives around and spec gives look. Circumspect means looking around before acting.
After the scandal, the committee became circumspect about every new contract.
Circumspect is caution as vision. You look around the decision before stepping into it. It is not fear; it is careful seeing.