gingerliness means A gingerly state, attitude, or behavior. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “gingerliness” is a great word
GINGERLINESS — [Noun] A state or quality of extreme caution, often characterized by delicate or hesitant movement. From gingerly (meaning cautiously or delicately) + the noun-forming suffix -ness. The adjective 'gingerly' is of uncertain origin, possibly from Old French *gensor* or *genzor* (comparative of *gent* meaning 'delicate, pretty'). First recorded use of the noun 'gingerliness' is from 1583. Unlike recklessness, which charges ahead with rash disregard, or assurance, which moves with confident certainty, gingerliness is a vigilant choreography of the precarious. It is the breath held while carrying a full glass across a slick floor, the testing footfall on a frozen pond, and the meticulous navigation of a priceless vase through a narrow doorway—a fragile ballet enacted in recognition of the world's tenuous bonds.
Etymology
From gingerly + -ness.
noun
- A gingerly state, attitude, or behavior.