hand

Meanings

Noun

• The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
• That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand.
• That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once.
• That which has the appearance of, a human hand.
• In linear measurement:
• A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
• Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
• An agent; a servant, or manual laborer; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty.
• A performer more or less skilful.
• An instance of helping.
• Handwriting; style of penmanship.
• A person's autograph or signature.
• Personal possession; ownership.
• Management, domain, control.
• Applause.
• A Native American gambling game, involving guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or similar, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.
• The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
• A whole rhizome of ginger.
• The feel of a fabric; the impression or quality of the fabric as judged qualitatively by the sense of touch.
• Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
• Agency in transmission from one person to another.
• Rate; price.

Verb

• To give, pass or transmit with the hand, literally or figuratively.
• To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct.
• To manage.
• To seize; to lay hands on.
• To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
• To furl.
• To cooperate.

Related

Similar words

• manus , mound , mund , paw

Origin

• From Middle English hond, hand, from Old English hand ("hand, side (in defining position), power, control, possession, charge, agency, person regarded as holder or receiver of something"), from Proto-West Germanic *handu ("hand"), from Proto-Germanic *handuz ("hand") (compare Dutch, Norwegian Nynorsk, Swedish hand, German Hand, West Frisian hân), of uncertain origin. Perhaps compare Old Swedish hinna, Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌷𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌰𐌽 ("to take captive, capture"); and Latvian sīts ("hunting spear"), Ancient Greek κεντέω ("prick"), Albanian çandër ("pitchfork, prop").