handiness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English handy Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English handiness From handy + -ness.

1. The quality or state of being handy.

   “All of She Came Too Late is delightfully well-written: one of the most commendable things about it is Wings' handiness with metaphor — she writes of a character who's "a good co-worker, but with as much sense of humor as a cardboard box." Or, "The night came back to me, like a bolt shooting into a lock."”