Where did the term gingerly come from?
Before it came to mean “extremely cautiously” in 1600, gingerly meant “elegantly, daintily.” In fact, it stems from the Latin word gentius, meaning “(well)-born.” But today it has less to do with elegance and more to do with a delicate touch, usually used to avoid hurting something or someone.
What does moving gingerly mean?
a slow careful way
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgin‧ger‧ly /ˈdʒɪndʒəli $ -ər-/ adverb, adjective 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 SYN carefully He gingerly felt his way along the dark tunnel.
What does Gingerliness mean?
a close attentiveness to avoiding danger. for someone who usually tries any new extreme sport, she’s approaching this one with uncharacteristic gingerliness.
What does shalwar kameez mean in English?
/ˌsʌl.wɑːr kəˈmiːz/ (also shalwar kameez) a type of suit, worn especially by Asian women, with loose trousers and a long shirt.
What does ginger slang mean?
person who has red hair
noun. 1. (slang) A person who has red hair.
What is plaiting your hair mean?
If you plait three or more lengths of hair, rope, or other material together, you twist them over and under each other to make one thick length. [mainly British]regional note: in AM, usually use braid. countable noun. A plait is a length of hair that has been plaited.
What does imperious emissary mean?
emissary. someone sent to represent another’s interests. And so when Okonkwo of Umuofia arrived at Mbaino as the proud and imperious emissary of war, he was treated with great honor and respect, and two days later he returned home with a lad of fifteen and a young virgin.
What is the definition of the word anguished?
: extreme pain, distress, or anxiety cries of anguish mental anguish. anguish. verb. anguished; anguishing; anguishes.
What does the word Dyna mean?
power
Save This Word! a combining form meaning “power,” used in the formation of compound words: dynamotor.
What is a dupatta in English?
/ (dʊˈpʌtə) / noun. a scarf worn in India.
What is the origin of the word ginger?
This word meaning cautiously or timidly has nothing to do with ginger up, the spice ginger or the colour ginger as in ginger-haired. The word is derived from an archaic meaning of gent meaning noble or wellborn, in use since the 15th century.
What is the origin of the word gingerly?
Another conjecture is that it’s related to an Old French word, gensor, which meant “delicate.” That’s because in 16th century English an earlier sense of gingerly often referred to dancing or walking with dainty steps.
What is the root word of gingerbread?
gingerbread (n.) late 13c., gingerbrar, “preserved ginger,” from Old French ginginbrat “ginger preserve,” from Medieval Latin gingimbratus “gingered,” from gingiber (see ginger ). The ending changed by folk etymology to -brede “bread,” a formation attested by mid-14c.
What is the etymology of the word’ginger’?
But this may be Sanskrit folk etymology, and the word may be from an ancient Dravidian word that also produced the Malayalam name for the spice, inchi-ver, from inchi “root.” The word apparently was readopted in Middle English from Old French gingibre (12c., Modern French gingembre ).