dexterous

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *déḱs Proto-Indo-European *deḱs-terósder. Proto-Italic *deksteros Latin dexter Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ōtsos or *-otsos Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English dexterous From Latin dexter (“right, ready”) + -ous. Displaced native Old English handcræftiġ.

1. Skillful with one's hands.

   “She is pleasingly dexterous with the chopsticks, and keeps one hand lying palm up on her lap. Pinched with just the right pressure between the sticks; funny how plump women have that delicate touch.”

2. Skillful in some specific thing.

   “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. Skilled at argumentation; mentally skillful; quick-witted.

   “1775, speech by Edmund Burke […] the study [of law] renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defense […]”