dexterous

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin dexter (right, ready) + -ous.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɛkstɹəs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛkstɹəs

Adjective

dexterous (comparative more dexterous, superlative most dexterous)

  1. Skillful with one's hands.
  2. Skillful in some specific thing.
    • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
      We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing; and as I was most dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me.
  3. Agile; flexible; able to move fluidly and gracefully.
  4. (figuratively, archaic) Skilled at argumentation; mentally skillful.
    • 1775, speech by Edmund Burke
      [] the study [of law] renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defense []

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