watchful
UK /ˈwɒt͡ʃ.fəl/ · US /ˈwɔt͡ʃ.fəl/ adjective
- adjective Fully observant, vigilant, or aware. “The teacher kept a watchful eye on her pupils during the school trip.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English waccheful, equivalent to watch + -ful. Compare West Frisian waaks (“watchful”), Dutch waaks, waakzaam (“watchful”), German wachsam (“watchful”), Swedish vaksam (“watchful”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Full of watch; vigilant; attentive; careful to observe closely; observant; cautious; --with of before the thing to be regulated or guarded; as, to be watchful of one's behavior; and with against before the thing to be avoided; as, to be watchful against the growth of vicious habits. "Many a watchful night." Shak. "Happy watchful shepherds." Milton.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “watchful”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details