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gingerly

[ jin-jer-lee ]
/ ˈdʒɪn dʒər li /
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See synonyms for: gingerly / gingerliness on Thesaurus.com

adverb
with great care or caution; warily.
adjective
cautious, careful, or wary.
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Origin of gingerly

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

OTHER WORDS FROM gingerly

gin·ger·li·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gingerly in a sentence

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
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
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