Dexterical
(Dex*ter"i*cal) a. Dexterous. [Obs.]
Dexterity
(Dex*ter"i*ty) n. [L. dexteritas, fr. dexter: cf. F. dextérité. See Dexter.]
1. Right-handedness.
2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as,
dexterity with the chisel.
In youth quick bearing and dexterity.
Shak. 3. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated
or difficult affair; adroitness.
His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver himself.
Bacon.
He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and dexterity.
Hallam. Syn. — Adroitness; activity; nimbleness; expertness; skill; cleverness; art; ability; address; tact; facility; aptness; aptitude; faculty.
See Skill.
Dexterous
(Dex"ter*ous) a. [L. dexter. See Dexter.] [Written also dextrous.]
1. Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and active with the hands; handy; ready; as,
a dexterous hand; a dexterous workman.
2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing expedients; expert; as, a dexterous manager.
Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd to quit.
Pope. 3. Done with dexterity; skillful; artful; as, dexterous management. "Dexterous sleights of hand." Trench.
Syn. — Adroit; active; expert; skillful; clever; able; ready; apt; handy; versed.
Dexterously
(Dex"ter*ous*ly) adv. In a dexterous manner; skillfully.
Dexterousness
(Dex"ter*ous*ness), n. The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.
Dextrad
(Dex"trad) adv. [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the right side; dextrally.
Dextral
(Dex"tral) a. [From Dexter.] Right, as opposed to sinistral, or left.
Dextral shell (Zoöl.), a spiral shell the whorls of which turn from left right, or like the hands of a watch
when the apex of the spire is toward the eye of the observer.
