Nearby Words

adroitness

[uh-droit] Origin

a·droit

[uh-droit]
adjective
1.
expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body.
2.
cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious: an adroit debater.

Origin:
1645–55; < French, Old French: elegant, skillful, equivalent to a- a-5 + droit, dreit straight, just, correct < Latin dīrēctus; see direct

a·droit·ly, adverb
a·droit·ness, noun
un·a·droit, adjective
un·a·droit·ly, adverb
un·a·droit·ness, noun

adroit, à droite.


1. skillful, clever; deft, apt, adept. 1, 2. See dexterous.


1. clumsy.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Adroitness is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Collins
World English Dictionary
adroit (əˈdrɔɪt)
 
adj
1.  skilful or dexterous
2.  quick in thought or reaction
 
[C17: from French à droit according to right, rightly]
 
a'droitly
 
adv
 
a'droitness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

adroit
1650s, "dexterous," originally "rightly," from Fr. phrase à droit "according to right," from O.Fr. à "to" + droit "right," from L.L. directum "right, justice," acc. of L. directus "straight" (see direct). Related: Adroitly.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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