Where does “gingerly” come from?
Gingerly derives from Middle English -ly added to ginger, with the adverbial suffix tracing through Old English -līċ, Proto-Germanic -līkaz, and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European roots.
gingerly (English): In a delicate and cautious manner; Very careful...
Definitions
- In a delicate and cautious manner; Very careful...
Ancestry of “gingerly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ly | Used to form adjectives from nouns, the... |
| 2 | English | grisly | Horrifyingly repellent; gruesome, terrifying;... |
| 3 | Middle English | grisely | — |
| 4 | Old English | grisliċ | grisly, horrible; dreadful, horrid |
| 5 | Old English | -līċ | suffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | *-līk | — |