gingerly Definition

ginger
noun

1. An aromatic spicy swollen root or rhizome, often dried and ground to a yellow powder and widely used as a flavouring in biscuits, cakes, curries, etc or preserved in syrup.
2. The perennial tropical plant from which this root is obtained.
3. A reddish-brown colour.
4. colloq
Energy; liveliness.

adj

1. Flavoured with ginger.
2a. Said of hair: reddish-orange in colour;
2b. Reddish-brown in colour.

verb

gingered, gingering
1. colloq
To urge, persuade or force someone or something to become more lively, active, interesting or efficient.
Form: ginger up (usually)

Derivative: gingerly
adj

See separate entry.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon ingifer, from Latin ingiber, from Sanskrit srnga horn + vera body (from the shape of the root).

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gingerly
adverb

1. With delicate caution.

Thesaurus: carefully, gently, cautiously, delicately, hesitantly, daintily, timidly, warily, charily; Antonym: carelessly, roughly.

adj

1. Very cautious or wary.

Etymology: 17c; 16c in the sense ‘daintily': perhaps from French gensor delicate.