gingerly

[ jin-jer-lee ]
/ ˈdʒɪn dʒər li /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR gingerly ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

with great care or caution; warily.

adjective

cautious, careful, or wary.

Origin of gingerly

1510–20; ginger-, perhaps < Middle French gensor, genzor delicate, pretty, positive use of comparative of gent gentle; see -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM gingerly

gin·ger·li·ness, noun

Words nearby gingerly

ginger wine, gingerbread, gingerbread palm, gingerbread plum, gingerbread tree, gingerly, gingerroot, gingersnap, gingery, gingham, gingili

Words related to gingerly

warily, hesitantly, delicately, cautiously, reluctantly, safely, discreetly, timidly, calculating, cautious, chary, circumspect, considerate, dainty, delicate, discreet, fastidious, guarded, hesitant, reluctant

Example sentences from the Web for gingerly

British Dictionary definitions for gingerly

gingerly
/ (ˈdʒɪndʒəlɪ) /

adverb

in a cautious, reluctant, or timid manner

adjective

cautious, reluctant, or timid

Derived forms of gingerly

gingerliness, noun

Word Origin for gingerly

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