Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Using the hands with neatness; deft; dexterous.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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And indeed, these royal cup-bearers are neat-handed at their task, mixing the bowl with infinite elegance, and pouring the wine into the beakers without spilling a drop, and when they hand the goblet they poise it deftly between thumb and finger for the banqueter to take.
Cyropaedia 2007
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This neat-handed Phyllis used to pack up the nicest baskets of my provender, and convey them to somebody outside — I believe, on my conscience, to some poor friend in distress.
Roundabout Papers 2006
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She was good-looking, graceful and neat-handed; though her features were irregular, they were pleasing; her fresh complexion, her thick flaxen hair, her lively grey eyes, her little round nose, her rosy lips and above all her half-mocking, half-provocative expression — were all rather charming in their way.
The Inn 2006
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Hannah the neat-handed, she was bearing them up to the little patient when the frantic parent met her on the stair.
The Newcomes 2006
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Soames watched her, neat-handed, neat-ankled, in neat light-blue print, with a face like a Botticelli — lots of faces like that in England!
Swan Song 2004
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May I not say that the usual tether of this class, in the way of carnifers, cupbearers, and the rest, does not reach beyond neat-handed Phyllis and the greengrocer? and that Phyllis, neat-handed as she probably is, and the greengrocer, though he be ever so active, cannot administer a dinner to twelve people who are prohibited by a Medo – Persian law from all self-administration whatever?
Framley Parsonage 2004
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Vanilla when once started gives little or no trouble, and its pods do not require any very careful manipulation before sending to Europe, and this is a very important point, for a great hindrance — THE great hindrance to plantation enterprise on the Coast — is the difficulty of getting neat-handed labourers.
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Rosine liked a bribe, so she did her best, smoothed and plaited my hair as well as a coiffeur would have done, placed the lace collar mathematically straight, tied the neck-ribbon accurately — in short, did her work like the neat-handed Phillis she could be when she those.
Villette 2003
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Afterward, we retired once more to the parlour and Imriel served cordial on a silver tray, taking pride in his role, as deft and neat-handed as an adept of the Night Court, watching and listening with all the acuity I had taught him.
Kushiel's Avatar Carey, Jacqueline, 1964- 2003
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She acquired them with ease and practised them with the air of a dignified princess and neat-handed facility.
Tropic Days 2003
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