gingerlyadv.adj.

Brit.

/ˈdʒɪn(d)ʒəli/, U.S.

/ˈdʒɪndʒərli/

Forms: 1500s gingerle, 1500s gyngerly, 1500s–1600s gingerlie, 1500s– gingerly.

Origin: Apparently formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: an element of uncertain origin, -ly suffix².

Etymology: < a first element of uncertain origin (see note) + -ly suffix². In use as adjective perhaps influenced by -ly suffix¹.It has been suggested that the first element is < Anglo-Norman gençur and Old French gençor , gentior , etc. (12th cent.), comparative and superlative of gent in the senses ‘beautiful, pretty, pleasant’ (see gent adj.), also used as a positive (13th cent.). This is formally and semantically possible, but the French forms are not attested after the end of the 13th cent., so this interpretation would assume several centuries of unrecorded survival in either French or English (perhaps as a technical term in dancing).

A. adv.

†1. Chiefly with reference to walking or dancing: with small elegant steps; elegantly, daintily. Also in later use: mincingly, effeminately. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb] > delicately or daintily

gingerly?1520

minionly1545

daintily1561

daintly1563

minikinly1580

delicately1587

incony?1602

dainty1610

airily1823

?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Evj^v And I can daunce it gyngerly.

1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 1203 With, Gingirly, go gingerly! her tayle was made of hay; Go she neuer so gingirly, her honesty is gone away.

c1565 Enterlude of Youth sig. Biii Ye be well nise God wote ye be a lytell prety pye, iwis ye go ful gingerle.

1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E8 Their dansing minions, that minse it ful gingerlie..tripping like gotes that an egge wold not brek vnder their feet.

1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C3 Oh! she lookes so sugredly, so simpringly, so gingerly, so amarously, so amiably..Shees..such an intycing shee-witch.

1703 P. Simon Comm. Two Bks. Samuel i. xv. 173 He came to him with a soft pace, treading gingerly..after a nice and delicate manner.

2. With great care as to the result of a movement or act; (very) carefully, cautiously, tentatively, warily. Also: reluctantly, with distaste (as in handling some disagreeable object, etc.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adverb]

warelyc897

circumspectly?a1475

hooly1513

charely1545

circumstantly1549

warily1552

nicely1575

charily1577

fearfully1592

gingerly1596

cautelously1610

circumspectively1616

cautionately1619

tenderlya1628

cautiously1699

carefully1710–11

guardedly1784

canny1786

1596 H. Clapham Sinners Sleepe 91 A nettle gingerlie handled doth ranckle the hand.

1607 R. C. tr. H. Estienne World of Wonders 350 He tooke off the taffata very gingerly [Fr. doucement] wherein the coffer was wrapped.

a1640 P. Massinger Parl. of Love (1976) v. i. 72 Prithee gentle officer, Handle mee gingerlie or I fall to pieces.

1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Eph. iii. 15) And when we walk, to tread gingerly, step warily.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 3 July (1974) VIII. 317 But Lord, how gingerly he answered it.

1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. v. 37 My mother was going very gingerly in the dark along the passage..as my uncle Toby pronounced the word wife.

a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. i. 326 It must be handled gingerly at first, or we shall run a hazard of cutting ourselves.

1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 242 She held a taper in her hand, and came tripping gingerly in.

a1871 T. Carlyle in J. W. Carlyle Lett. & Memorials (1883) I. 14 About July I cautiously, gingerly, stept up to the affair again.

1891 S. Baring-Gould In Troubadour-land xvi. 230 The boats..are all flat-bottomed, and the men have to row gingerly, lest their oars strike the bottom.

1944 K. Tynan Let. 22 Jan. (1994) i. 25 She peeked round the door gingerly.

1971 P. Berton Last Spike iv. i. 146 They were forced to crawl gingerly over immense snow bridges suspended one hundred and fifty feet above the frothing watercourse.

2012 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 15 Apr. (Front section) 12/3 Politicians and doctors broach the topic gingerly, and change is slow.

B. adj.

†1. Of a person or his or her movements: dainty, fastidious; (also) mincing, effeminate. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > delicate or dainty

finea1375

dely?c1400

delicate?a1425

minionate1496

minion1528

minion1529

gingerly1534

daintyc1540

minikin1545

daint1590

inconyc1592

minic1598

delicated1605

minical1668

finickingc1749

minionette1749

dinky1788

daintified1834

airy-fairy1837

mignon1837

minny1942

1534 N. Udall Floures for Latine Spekynge gathered oute of Terence 99 We staye and prolonge our goinge with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, or gingerly pace [L. tenero ac molli passu].

1563 Jack Jugler (Roxb. 1820) 9 We vse to call her at home, dame Coye A pretie gingerlie pice, god saue her and saint Loye.

1573 G. Harvey Schollers Loove in Let.-bk. (1884) 115 All y^e rest of my trimmest, tricksiest, gingerliest ioyes.

2. Chiefly of the manner of walking or of handling something: fearful of making a noise or causing harm to oneself or another person or object; (very) cautious, careful; wary, reluctant.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] > specifically of actions or things

circumspect1422

well-kept1486

wary1557

cautionary1605

cautionating1654

guarded1709

gingerly1755

well-guarded1781

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Larron Pas de larron, a gingerlie tread.

1755 J. Shebbeare Matrimony (ed. 2) II. lxv. 252 Like those Ladies who affect to shew all the World they are accustomed to a Coach, by their gingerly Stepping.

1827 C. I. Johnstone Elizabeth de Bruce I. viii. 147 The gingerly way in which a sagacious, yet luxurious rat approaches a well-baited trap.

1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles ii. ix Tim treading with gingerly feet past his own door.

1884 Christian World 24 Jan. 53/3 Told in the most mincing and gingerly fashion.

1929 Amer. Mercury Jan. 61/2 There is a second reason for this gingerly handling of women, as concerns at least their unphysical aspects.

1943 M. Mann Phillips Within City Wall iv. 86 She saw that he was carrying in a gingerly way a pair of green glass vases.

1994 Sci. Amer. Sept. 94/1 The crews at the very Pantex plant near Amarillo where these weapons were assembled are now taking them apart instead, five bombs a day—steady, gingerly work for a decade.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	gingerly
释义	gingerlyadv.adj. Brit. /ˈdʒɪn(d)ʒəli/, U.S. /ˈdʒɪndʒərli/ Forms: 1500s gingerle, 1500s gyngerly, 1500s–1600s gingerlie, 1500s– gingerly. Origin: Apparently formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: an element of uncertain origin, -ly suffix². Etymology: < a first element of uncertain origin (see note) + -ly suffix². In use as adjective perhaps influenced by -ly suffix¹.It has been suggested that the first element is < Anglo-Norman gençur and Old French gençor , gentior , etc. (12th cent.), comparative and superlative of gent in the senses ‘beautiful, pretty, pleasant’ (see gent adj.), also used as a positive (13th cent.). This is formally and semantically possible, but the French forms are not attested after the end of the 13th cent., so this interpretation would assume several centuries of unrecorded survival in either French or English (perhaps as a technical term in dancing). A. adv. †1. Chiefly with reference to walking or dancing: with small elegant steps; elegantly, daintily. Also in later use: mincingly, effeminately. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adverb] > delicately or daintily gingerly?1520 minionly1545 daintily1561 daintly1563 minikinly1580 delicately1587 incony?1602 dainty1610 airily1823 ?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Evj^v And I can daunce it gyngerly. 1523 J. Skelton Goodly Garlande of Laurell 1203 With, Gingirly, go gingerly! her tayle was made of hay; Go she neuer so gingirly, her honesty is gone away. c1565 Enterlude of Youth sig. Biii Ye be well nise God wote ye be a lytell prety pye, iwis ye go ful gingerle. 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. E8 Their dansing minions, that minse it ful gingerlie..tripping like gotes that an egge wold not brek vnder their feet. 1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster West-ward Hoe ii. i. sig. C3 Oh! she lookes so sugredly, so simpringly, so gingerly, so amarously, so amiably..Shees..such an intycing shee-witch. 1703 P. Simon Comm. Two Bks. Samuel i. xv. 173 He came to him with a soft pace, treading gingerly..after a nice and delicate manner. 2. With great care as to the result of a movement or act; (very) carefully, cautiously, tentatively, warily. Also: reluctantly, with distaste (as in handling some disagreeable object, etc.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adverb] warelyc897 circumspectly?a1475 hooly1513 charely1545 circumstantly1549 warily1552 nicely1575 charily1577 fearfully1592 gingerly1596 cautelously1610 circumspectively1616 cautionately1619 tenderlya1628 cautiously1699 carefully1710–11 guardedly1784 canny1786 1596 H. Clapham Sinners Sleepe 91 A nettle gingerlie handled doth ranckle the hand. 1607 R. C. tr. H. Estienne World of Wonders 350 He tooke off the taffata very gingerly [Fr. doucement] wherein the coffer was wrapped. a1640 P. Massinger Parl. of Love (1976) v. i. 72 Prithee gentle officer, Handle mee gingerlie or I fall to pieces. 1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (Eph. iii. 15) And when we walk, to tread gingerly, step warily. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 3 July (1974) VIII. 317 But Lord, how gingerly he answered it. 1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy V. v. 37 My mother was going very gingerly in the dark along the passage..as my uncle Toby pronounced the word wife. a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. i. 326 It must be handled gingerly at first, or we shall run a hazard of cutting ourselves. 1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 242 She held a taper in her hand, and came tripping gingerly in. a1871 T. Carlyle in J. W. Carlyle Lett. & Memorials (1883) I. 14 About July I cautiously, gingerly, stept up to the affair again. 1891 S. Baring-Gould In Troubadour-land xvi. 230 The boats..are all flat-bottomed, and the men have to row gingerly, lest their oars strike the bottom. 1944 K. Tynan Let. 22 Jan. (1994) i. 25 She peeked round the door gingerly. 1971 P. Berton Last Spike iv. i. 146 They were forced to crawl gingerly over immense snow bridges suspended one hundred and fifty feet above the frothing watercourse. 2012 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 15 Apr. (Front section) 12/3 Politicians and doctors broach the topic gingerly, and change is slow. B. adj. †1. Of a person or his or her movements: dainty, fastidious; (also) mincing, effeminate. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > delicate or dainty finea1375 dely?c1400 delicate?a1425 minionate1496 minion1528 minion1529 gingerly1534 daintyc1540 minikin1545 daint1590 inconyc1592 minic1598 delicated1605 minical1668 finickingc1749 minionette1749 dinky1788 daintified1834 airy-fairy1837 mignon1837 minny1942 1534 N. Udall Floures for Latine Spekynge gathered oute of Terence 99 We staye and prolonge our goinge with a nyce or tendre and softe, delicate, or gingerly pace [L. tenero ac molli passu]. 1563 Jack Jugler (Roxb. 1820) 9 We vse to call her at home, dame Coye A pretie gingerlie pice, god saue her and saint Loye. 1573 G. Harvey Schollers Loove in Let.-bk. (1884) 115 All y^e rest of my trimmest, tricksiest, gingerliest ioyes. 2. Chiefly of the manner of walking or of handling something: fearful of making a noise or causing harm to oneself or another person or object; (very) cautious, careful; wary, reluctant. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] > specifically of actions or things circumspect1422 well-kept1486 wary1557 cautionary1605 cautionating1654 guarded1709 gingerly1755 well-guarded1781 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Larron Pas de larron, a gingerlie tread. 1755 J. Shebbeare Matrimony (ed. 2) II. lxv. 252 Like those Ladies who affect to shew all the World they are accustomed to a Coach, by their gingerly Stepping. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Elizabeth de Bruce I. viii. 147 The gingerly way in which a sagacious, yet luxurious rat approaches a well-baited trap. 1862 Mrs. H. Wood Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles ii. ix Tim treading with gingerly feet past his own door. 1884 Christian World 24 Jan. 53/3 Told in the most mincing and gingerly fashion. 1929 Amer. Mercury Jan. 61/2 There is a second reason for this gingerly handling of women, as concerns at least their unphysical aspects. 1943 M. Mann Phillips Within City Wall iv. 86 She saw that he was carrying in a gingerly way a pair of green glass vases. 1994 Sci. Amer. Sept. 94/1 The crews at the very Pantex plant near Amarillo where these weapons were assembled are now taking them apart instead, five bombs a day—steady, gingerly work for a decade. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adv.adj.?1520
随便看	duendes dueness duenesses duenna duenna-ish duenna-like duennadom duennaish duennalike duennas duennaship duennaships duennesque duer duergar dues dues-paying duespaying duest duet dueted duetimely dueting duets duetted