From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
guarded
adj 1: very reluctant to give out information [syn: noncommittal,
unrevealing]
2: prudent; "guarded optimism" [syn: restrained]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Guard \Guard\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Guarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gurding.] [OF. guarder, garder, warder, F. garder, fr. OHG.
wart?n to be on the watch, await, G. marten. See Ward, v. &
n., and cf. Guard, n.]
1. To protect from danger; to secure against surprise,
attack, or injury; to keep in safety; to defend; to
shelter; to shield from surprise or attack; to protect by
attendance; to accompany for protection; to care for.
[1913 Webster]
For Heaven still guards the right. --Shak.
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2. To keep watch over, in order to prevent escape or restrain
from acts of violence, or the like.
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3. To protect the edge of, esp. with an ornamental border;
hence, to face or ornament with lists, laces, etc.
The body of your discourse is sometime guarded with
fragments, and the guards are but slightly basted on
neither. --Shak.
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4. To fasten by binding; to gird. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
Syn: To defend; protect; shield; keep; watch.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Guarded \Guard"ed\, a.
Cautious; wary; circumspect; as, he was guarded in his
expressions; framed or uttered with caution; as, his
expressions were guarded. -- Guard"edly, adv. --
Guard"ed*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]