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Added 10 October 2026

gingerly

/ˈdʒɪn(d)ʒəli/ adverb

In Latin: sēnsim Wiktionary

adverb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gingerly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

In a cautious and delicate manner; (very) carefully or cautiously.
He placed the glass jar gingerly on the concrete step.
Chiefly of dancing or walking: done with small, dainty steps; daintily; also, with excessive delicacy; affectedly, mincingly.

adjective

Often of movements: very careful, cautious, or delicate.
Often of a person or the way they move: dainty, delicate; also, excessively delicate; affected, mincing.

Origin

The second element is -ly; the first element may be Anglo-Norman gençur or Old French gençor, gensor, comparative forms (also attested as positives) of gent (“beautiful, noble, pleasant, courteous”). The Oxford English Dictionary notes, however, that there is a gap of a few centuries between the last appearance of gençor, etc., and the first appearance of gingerly. The adjective is derived from the adverb, possibly because -ly is also a suffix forming adjectives.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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