tentyadj.
/ˈtɛnti/, U.S. /ˈtɛn(t)i/, Scottish English /ˈtɛntɪ/ Scottish.
Watchful, attentive, observant, cautious.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective]
busyOE
carefula1000
orne?c1225
intentivec1290
soignous1340
curiousc1386
diligentc1400
well-advisedc1405
thoughtfulc1450
thoughtyc1480
keepful1489
tentfula1525
respective1525
solicit?1526
heedful1548
heedy1548
tentyc1555
chare1564
respectful1585
tentible1603
solicitous1610
observant1627
care-taking1825
leery1911
c1555 Maitland in Pinkerton Anc. Scot. Poems (1786) 276 Be wyse, and tentie, in thy governing.
1728 A. Ramsay Bonny Scot in Tea-table Misc. iii Fair winds and tenty boat-man.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 155 Jean slips in twa, wi' tentie e'e; Wha 'twas, she wadna tell.
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xii. 112 Never a gun or a sword left..but what tenty folk have hidden in their thatch.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1555