gingerly

[ jin-jer-lee ]
See synonyms for gingerly on Thesaurus.com
adverb
  1. with great care or caution; warily.

adjective
  1. cautious, careful, or wary.

Origin of gingerly

1
First recorded in 1510–20; ginger-, perhaps from Middle French gensor, genzor “delicate, pretty” (positive use of comparative of gent “high-born, noble,” also “beautiful, shapely,” from Latin genitus “begotten”; see genital ) + -ly

Other words for gingerly

Other words from gingerly

  • gin·ger·li·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for gingerly

gingerly

/ (ˈdʒɪndʒəlɪ) /


adverb
  1. in a cautious, reluctant, or timid manner

adjective
  1. cautious, reluctant, or timid

Origin of gingerly

1
C16: perhaps from Old French gensor dainty, from gent of noble birth; see gentle

Derived forms of gingerly

  • gingerliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012