From Middle English defte, daft, from Old English dæfte ("mild, gentle, meek"), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī, derived from *dabaną, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₂ebʰ- ("fitting, fit together"). Near cognates include Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆𐍃 ("suitable"), West Frisian deftich ("distinguished"), Dutch deftig ("distinguished"), German deftig ("coarse"). Further cognates include Russian добро ("wealth, good") and Latin faber ("craftsman; skillful").
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