With Care

Gingerly

Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt. 

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This word certainly has a fascinating history. It has traveled from the Latin genitus (well-born) to Old French gent (graceful) to Old French gensor (delicate) to the more modern gingerly, meaning daintily, mincingly. 

It has nothing at all to do with ginger, the spice. Rather, it traces back to the belief that people who were born with noble blood were as a matter of nature very graceful, delicate, dainty, and careful.  It was the belief that these qualities were caught, not taught–although children of noble blood were certainly schooled in noble behavior. I do hope, though, that they are not taught to walk mincingly. That doesn’t bring a pleasant picture to mind:

 

 

Seriously glad these dainty, delicate ways of dressing for men of the nobility are no longer “in.”

These days, we may handle a difficult matter gingerly–with care, so as not to create damage. We may pick our way through a field of poison ivy gingerly.  Personally, I’d walk miles to get around it completely if that were necessary.  The word has come to mean carefully, gently, with concern, and has very little to do with the manner of walking or moving.

I think that’s a good thing.

In that picture?  The combination of lip rouge and scruffy beard just cracks me up 🙂

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/gingerly/

 

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