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dexterity

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dex⋅ter⋅i⋅ty

  [dek-ster-i-tee]
Use dexterity in a Sentence
–noun
1. skill or adroitness in using the hands or body; agility.
2. mental adroitness or skill; cleverness.
Origin:
1520–30; < L dexteritās readiness, equiv. to dexter- (s. of dexter) skillful + -itās -ity
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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dex·ter·i·ty   (děk-stěr'ĭ-tē)   
n.  

  1. Skill and grace in physical movement, especially in the use of the hands; adroitness.

  2. Mental skill or adroitness; cleverness.


[French dextérité, from Latin dexteritās, from dexter, skillful; see dexter.]
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

dexterity 
1527, from M.Fr. dexterite, from L. dexteritatem (nom. dexteritas), from dexter "skillful," also "right (hand)," from PIE base *dek-, cf. Gk. dexios "on the right hand," also "fortunate, clever;" Goth. taihswa; Skt. daksinah "on the right hand, southern, skillful;" Lith. desinas; O.Ir. dess "on the right hand, southern." Klein says the PIE base meant "to take, receive," also "acceptable, becoming, good." The Gk. and L. forms are with the comp. suffix -ter, thus meaning etymologically "the better direction." M.E. dester meant "right hand," and in heraldry dexter means "on the right side."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: dex·ter·i·ty
Pronunciation: dek-'ster-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
1 : readiness and grace in physical activity; especially : skill and ease in using the hands
2 : mental skill or quickness
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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