gingerly

gin·ger·ly (jnjr-l)

adv.

With great care or delicacy; cautiously.

adj.

Cautious; careful.

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[Possibly alteration of obsolete French gensor, delicate, from Old French, comparative of gent, gentle; see gent¹.]

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ginger·li·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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gingerly

Adverb

carefully or cautiously: she sat gingerly on the edge of the chair [perhaps from Old French gensor dainty]

Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adj.	1.	gingerly - with extreme care or delicacy; "they proceeded with gingerly footwork over the jagged stones"; "the issue was handled only in a gingerly way"- W.S.White cautious - showing careful forethought; "reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions"; "a cautious driver"
Adv.	1.	gingerly - in a gingerly manner; "gingerly I raised the edge of the blanket"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

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gingerly

adverb cautiously, carefully, reluctantly, suspiciously, tentatively, warily, hesitantly, timidly, circumspectly, cagily (informal) charily
Opposite: carelessly

Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006

No, I'm not mashing this bumblebee's face into the flower.
I'm gingerly petting it with my finger.