hand
nounEtymology
From Middle English handen, honden, from the noun (see above); and also from henden (> English hend), from Old English *hendan, ġehendan (“to seize by hand, grasp, hold”), from Proto-West Germanic *handijan, from Proto-Germanic *handijaną (“to take by hand, grasp”), from the noun (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian handa, henda (“to grasp, seize”), Middle Low German handen, henden (in derivatives), Dutch handen, henden (“to arrange, dispose, be handy”), Dutch overhandigen (“to hand, hand over”), Middle High German handen (“to cut, hew”), Middle High German henden (“to give hands to; take hold of, seize”), Old Norse henda (“to grasp, seize, take by hand”).
Definitions
The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding…
The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
- Her hands are really strong.
- Using her hands like windshield wipers, she tried to flick snow away from her mouth. When she clawed at her chest and neck, the crumbs maddeningly slid back onto her face. She grew claustrophobic.
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
›+ 29 more definitionsshow fewer
In linear measurement
In linear measurement:
- Boxer was an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together.
A side
A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
- […]on this hand and that hand were hangings[…]
Power of performance
Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
- My friend Will Honeycomb has told me, for above this half year, that he had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator, and that he would fain have one of his writing in my works.
- The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the Fence couldn't swear he knew his face.
An agent
An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.
- Large farms need many farm hands.
- For this scene, a large number of supers are engaged, and in order to further swell the crowd, practically all the available stage hands have to ‘walk on’ dressed in various coloured dominoes, and all wearing masks.
A performer more or less skilful.
- an old hand at public speaking
- I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
- At the church sociables he used to hop around among them, chipping and chirping like a dicky-bird picking up seed; and he was a great hand to play the piano, and sing saddish, sweetish songs to them.
An instance of helping.
- Bob gave Alice a hand to move the furniture.
- What need have you of a hand who never fall?
Handwriting
Handwriting; style of penmanship.
- a good hand
- I ſay ſhe neuer did inuent this letter, / This is a mans inuention, and his hand.
- […]I have ſometimes known a Poet in Danger of being convicted as a Thief, upon much worſe Evidence than the Reſemblance of Hands hath been held to be in the Law.
A person's autograph or signature.
- Who […] Haue paſt the armie of the mightie Turke: Bearing his priuie ſignet and his hand, To ſafe conduct vs thorow Affrica: […]
- Given under my Hand and Seal of the State this 1st Day of January, 2010.
Promise, word
Promise, word; especially of a betrothal.
- Few would rely upon the word or oath of any man who had been known to break a hand-promise.
Personal possession
Personal possession; ownership.
- Receiving in hand one year’s tribute.
Management, domain, control.
- in safe hands
- in good hands
- With the business back in the founder's hands, there is new hope for the company.
A hand which is free to assist
A hand which is free to assist; especially due to having one's hands full or otherwise fully preoccupied.
- Just give me a minute — I haven't got any hands right now.
Applause.
- Give him a hand.
- “Give him a hand, Pendennis; you know every chap likes a hand,” Mr. Foker said; and the good-natured young gentleman, and Pendennis laughing, and the dragoons in the opposite box, began clapping hands to the best of their power.
A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or…
A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
A whole rhizome of ginger.
The feel of a fabric
The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
- This fabric has a smooth, soft hand.
- For both the fifth and sixth fabrics, I used tussah noils as weft. The effect that makes in the hand of the fabrics and their apparent weight is striking.
- He finds that this double beat helps lock the weft in place and gives the cloth a sturdy, durable hand, perfect for a functional piece such as a runner.
Actual performance
Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
- And Gideon ſaid vnto God, If thou wilt ſaue Iſrael by mine hand,[…]
Agency in transmission from one person to another.
- to buy at first hand (from the producer, or when new)
- to buy at second hand (when no longer in the producer’s hand, or when not new)
- It's not a rumor. I heard it at first hand.
Rate
Rate; price.
- For Time is the meaſure of Buſineſſe, as Money is of Wares: And Buſineſſe is bought at a deare Hand, where there is ſmall diſpatch.
To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
- He handed them the letter. She handed me an opportunity.
- It has jailed environmental activists and is planning to limit the power of judicial oversight by handing a state-approved body a monopoly over bringing environmental lawsuits.
To lead, guide, or assist with the hand
To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
- to hand a lady into a carriage
To manage.
- I bleſs my Chain, I hand my Oar, / Nor think on all I left on Shoar.
To seize
To seize; to lay hands on.
- wee will not hand a rope more
To pledge by the hand
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
To furl (a sail).
- send the people up to hand the sail, and when up, before they goon the yard, I'll clap the rolling tackle on to steady it
To cooperate.
A surname.
Initialism of have a nice day.
The neighborhood
Vish — recursive loop
A definitional loop anchored at hand. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.
A definitional loop anchored at hand. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.
10 hops · closes at hand
curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA