dexterity

dexterity
dexterity 1520s, from M.Fr. dexterité (16c.), from L. dexteritatem (nom. dexteritas) "readiness, skillfulness, prosperity," from dexter "skillful," also "right (hand)" (Cf. O.Fr. destre, Sp. diestro, etc.), from PIE root *deks- "on the right hand," hence "south" to one facing east (Cf. Skt. daksinah "on the right hand, southern, skillful;" Avestan dashina- "on the right hand;" Gk. dexios "on the right hand," also "fortunate, clever;" O.Ir. dess "on the right hand, southern;" Welsh deheu; Gaulish Dexsiva, name of a goddess of fortune; Goth. taihswa; Lith. desinas; O.C.S. desnu, Rus. desnoj). The Latin form is with the comparative suffix -ter, thus meaning etymologically "the better direction." M.E. dester meant "right hand," and in heraldry dexter means "on the right side."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Dexterity — Dex*ter i*ty, n. [L. dexteritas, fr. dexter: cf. F. dext[ e]rit[ e]. See {Dexter}.] 1. Right handedness. [1913 Webster] 2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dexterity — index competence (ability), efficiency, facility (easiness), faculty (ability), gift (flair) …   Law dictionary

  • dexterity — facility, ease, *readiness Analogous words: dexterousness, adroitness, deftness (see corresponding adjectives at DEXTEROUS): expertness, adeptness, skillfulness, proficiency (see corresponding adjectives at PROFICIENT) Antonyms: clumsiness… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • dexterity — [n] aptitude, ability address, adroitness, aptness, art, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, deftness, effortlessness, expertise, expertness, facility, finesse, handiness, ingenuity, knack, know how, mastery, neatness, nimbleness, proficiency,… …   New thesaurus

  • dexterity — ► NOUN ▪ skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands. ORIGIN Latin dexteritas, from dexter on the right …   English terms dictionary

  • dexterity — [deks ter′ə tē] n. [L dexteritas, skillfulness, handiness < dexter: see DEXTER] 1. skill in using one s hands or body; adroitness 2. skill in using one s mind; cleverness …   English World dictionary

  • dexterity — n. 1) to demonstrate, display, show dexterity 2) great; manual dexterity 3) the dexterity to + inf. (does he have enough dexterity to cope with a job like that?) * * * [deks terɪtɪ] display manual dexterity show dexterity great to demonstrate the …   Combinatory dictionary

  • dexterity — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ great ▪ manual VERB + DEXTERITY ▪ demand (esp. BrE), require ▪ Video games require great manual dexterity …   Collocations dictionary

  • dexterity — [[t]dekste̱rɪti[/t]] N UNCOUNT Dexterity is skill in using your hands, or sometimes your mind. ...Reid s dexterity on the guitar. ...the wit and verbal dexterity of the script …   English dictionary

  • dexterity — dex|ter|i|ty [dekˈsterıti] n [U] 1.) skill and speed in doing something with your hands ▪ Computer games can improve children s manual dexterity . 2.) skill in using words or your mind ▪ his charm and verbal dexterity …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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