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gingerly

 - 3 dictionary results

gin⋅ger⋅ly

  [jin-jer-lee]
Use gingerly in a Sentence
–adverb
1. with great care or caution; warily.
–adjective
2. cautious, careful, or wary.
Origin:
1510–20; ginger-, perh. < MF gensor, genzor delicate, pretty, positive use of compar. of gent gentle; see -ly

Related forms:
gin⋅ger⋅li⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. cautiously, carefully, prudently.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To gingerly
gin·ger·ly   (jĭn'jər-lē)   
adv.  With great care or delicacy; cautiously.
adj.  Cautious; careful.

[Possibly alteration of obsolete French gensor, delicate, from Old French, comparative of gent, gentle; see gent1.]
gin'ger·li·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gingerly 
1519, "elegantly, daintily," perhaps from O.Fr. gensor, comp. of gent "dainty, delicate," from L. gentius "(well)-born." Meaning "extremely cautiously" is from 1607.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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