Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Perhaps from Old French gensor 'more small and graceful', from gent 'born into high rank, small and graceful'

gingerly

 adverb, adjective
     
gin‧ger‧ly
if you move gingerly, or touch something gingerly, you do it in a slow careful way, because you are afraid it will be dangerous or painful [= carefully]:
He gingerly felt his way along the dark tunnel.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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