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deftly

 - 3 dictionary results

deft

  [deft]
Use deftly in a Sentence
–adjective, -er, -est.
dexterous; nimble; skillful; clever: deft hands; a deft mechanic.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME; var. of daft

Related forms:
deftly, adverb
deftness, noun

Synonyms:
See dexterous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To deftly
deft   (děft)   
adj.   deft·er, deft·est
Quick and skillful; adroit. See Synonyms at dexterous.

[Middle English, gentle, humble, variant of dafte, foolish; see daft.]
deft'ly adv., deft'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

deft 
O.E. gedæfte "mild, gentle," differentiated in M.E. into daft (q.v.) and this word, via sense of "apt, skillful, adept."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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