overcautiousadj.
/ˌəʊvəˈkɔːʃəs/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈkɔʃəs/, /ˌoʊvərˈkɑʃəs/ Excessively cautious; too cautious.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] > excessively
overcautious1653
1653 J. Gauden Hieraspistes 537 I have now..onely left a wary super-politick, and over-cautious spirit to encounter and dispell.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Over-cautious, too wary, too heedful.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 295. ¶7 It is observed of over-cautious Generals, that they never engage in a Battel without securing a Retreat.
1817 J. Hogg Sir Anthony Moore iv. iii, in Dramatic Tales I. 236 You're over cautious—two such other drops Will more effective prove—trust me, they would.
1874 H. Sidgwick Methods of Ethics (1877) 204 A man is said to be too cautious, or over-cautious, when he deliberates too much or too often.
1912 Dict. National Biogr. 1901–11 III. 421/1 Stokes remained a student throughout his life..perhaps over-cautious in drawing conclusions and in publication of his work.
1961 Times 1 July 4/1 He..played an overcautious wedge at the Royal.
2002 Guardian Weekly (Nexis) 17 July 30 Up to now, anti-smoking campaigns have always been overcautious.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1653