Etymology dictionary. 2014.
deft — [ deft ] adjective deft movements are made quickly and with skill a. moving quickly and with skill: a deft yachtswoman deft at doing something: a chef who is extremely deft at producing original dishes ╾ deft|ly adverb … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
deft — (d[e^]ft), a. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. d[ae]ft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit, Goth. gadaban to be fit. Cf. {Daft},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
deft — [deft] adj written [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: daft] 1.) a deft movement is skilful, and often quick ▪ He sketched her with quick, deft strokes. ▪ deft footwork 2.) skilful at doing something ▪ his deft chairmanship of the company >deftly adv… … Dictionary of contemporary English
deft´ly — deft «dehft», adjective. quick and skillful in action; nimble; clever: »The fingers of a violinist or surgeon must be deft. ... one of the deftest juggling performances since the late W. C. Fields laid aside his Indian clubs (Time). SYNONYM(S):… … Useful english dictionary
deft. — «dehft», adjective. quick and skillful in action; nimble; clever: »The fingers of a violinist or surgeon must be deft. ... one of the deftest juggling performances since the late W. C. Fields laid aside his Indian clubs (Time). SYNONYM(S): See… … Useful english dictionary
deft — deft·ly; deft·ness; deft; … English syllables
deft — [deft] adj. [ME defte, dafte: see DAFT] skillful in a quick, sure, and easy way; dexterous SYN. DEXTEROUS deftly adv. deftness n … English World dictionary
deft — I adjective able, accomplished, adept, adroit, agile, apt, canny, capable, clever, competent, cunning, dexterous, efficient, expert, facile, flexible, gifted, good at, handy, ingenious, light, masterful, masterly, nimble, nimble fingered,… … Law dictionary
deft — adj. adept, skillful; dexterous, agile, nimble … English contemporary dictionary
deft — *dexterous, adroit, handy Analogous words: nimble, *agile, brisk: *quick, ready, apt, prompt: skillful, skilled, adept, *proficient: sure, assured, *confidçnt Antonyms: awkward Contrasted words: clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche (see … New Dictionary of Synonyms
