gingerly

[ jin-jer-lee ]

adverb

1. with great care or caution; warily.

   Synonyms: prudently, carefully, cautiously

adjective

1. cautious, careful, or wary.

gingerly

/ ˈdʒɪndʒəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a cautious, reluctant, or timid manner

adjective

1. cautious, reluctant, or timid

Derived Forms

• ˈgingerliness, noun

Other Words From

• ginger·li·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gingerly¹

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”; genital ) + -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of gingerly¹

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

Example Sentences

In one of the activities men practiced putting the dolls gingerly on their backs to carry them.

From The Daily Beast

I gingerly walked down the center staircase and out into what was a chilly, sunny October morning.

From The Daily Beast

Gingerly, about 30 couples lay down and squatted on mats and rugs for the mass face-sit.

From The Daily Beast

The political and cultural climate was shifting, but gingerly.

From The Daily Beast

He gingerly lifted it up from its defensive position outside the army barracks and placed it in my hand.

From The Daily Beast

Sergeant Burton knelt down and gingerly laid his hand upon the stained linen over the breast of Sir Lucien.

From Project Gutenberg

In this gingerly way did the deputies lift the curtain and peer down the road to revolution.

From Project Gutenberg

She held it gingerly in her fingers and extended her arm over the sheer dark descent into the thronged street.

From Project Gutenberg

Nagpirigpirig siya sa hagdan nga nagkurugkurug, He was walking gingerly on the wobbly steps.

From Project Gutenberg

Up another gangway enough cordite to blow up the whole of Liverpool was being gingerly carried in small cases.

From Project Gutenberg