15 September 2008

gingerly

gin·ger·ly (jnjr-l)
adv.
With great care or delicacy; cautiously.
adj.
Cautious; careful.

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

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.


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.

gingerly

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.


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