| 释义 |
dexterity|dɛkˈstɛrɪtɪ|
[ad. L. dexteritās, f. dexter: see above and -ity. Cf. F. dexterité (1539 in Hatz.-Darm.), perh. the immediate source.]
1. Manual or manipulative skill, adroitness, neat-handedness; hence, address in the use of the limbs and in bodily movements generally.
1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Pref. (R.), A prince..of inuincible fortitude, of notable actiuitee, of dexteritee woonderfull. 1578T. N. tr. Conq. W. India 279 They have great dexteritie and skill in swimming. 1591Garrard Art Warre 2 Able to handle his Peece with due dexteritie. 1603Holland Plutarch's Mor. 107 A Chirurgian when he maketh incision.. had need to use great dexteritie. 1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 214 Some Turners to shew their Dexterity in Turning..Turn long and slender Sprigs of Ivory, as small as an Hay-stalk. 1776Gibbon Decl. & F. i. (1838) I. 12 To dispute with them the prize of superior strength or dexterity. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 382 His dexterity at sword and pistol made him a terror to all men.
2. Mental adroitness or skill; ‘readiness of expedient, quickness of contrivance, skill of management’ (J.); cleverness, address, ready tact. Sometimes in a bad sense: cleverness in taking an advantage, sharpness.
1527Chron. Calais (Camden 1846) 114 (Stanf.) Expedyente that she by her greate wisdom and dexteryte do cause the kyng her sonne to write to such cardynelles as be at lyberte. c1529Wolsey in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 8 Aftyr your accustomable wysdom and dexteryte. 1549Compl. Scot. (1872) 4 Comparit to the deuot Kyng, Numa pompilius..for his prudens ande dixtirite. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. v. 120 My admirable dexteritie of wit. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. viii. (1703) II. 467 The dexterity that is universally practiced in those parts. 1656Bramhall Replic. iv. 177 Persons of great maturity of judgement, of known dexterity in the Cannon Laws. 1677Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iii. 99 Al manner of Calliditie or dexteritie to cheat and deceive. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. v. §15, I admire his address and dexterity in argument. 1807–8Syd. Smith Plymley's Lett. Wks. (1859) II. 161/1 It is not..that the dexterity of honest Englishmen will ever equal the dexterity of French knaves. 1874Green Short Hist. vii. §6. 404 Elizabeth trusted to her dexterity to keep out of the storm.
†b. with pl. A dexterous or clever act; in bad sense, a piece of ‘sharp practice’. Obs.
1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1104/2 Being acquainted with the citizens, knowing the corruptions and dexterities of them in such cases. 1621G. Hellier in Lismore Papers (1888) Ser. ii. III. 29 By dextereaties I yett retayne them. 1635R. Bolton Comf. Affl. Consc. iv. 176 In pressing the law, besides other dexterities. 1805Foster Ess. i. vii. 92 All these accommodating dexterities of reason.
†3. Handiness, conveniency, suitableness. Obs.
1611Coryat Crudities Oration 5 He..trauelleth..for the commodity of his studies, and the dexterity of his life. 1614T. Adams Devil's Banquet 18 A full belly is not of such dexteritie for the Deuils imployment, as a full braine.
4. lit. Right-handedness; the using of the right hand in preference to the left. rare and late.
a1882Lancet (O.), Dexterity appears to be confined to the human race, for the monkey tribes use the right and left limbs indiscriminately. 1885Science V. June 460 In the drawings of the cave-men of France..the proportion of left-hand drawings is greatly in excess of what would now be found; but there is still a distinct preponderance of the right hand, which, however originated, has sufficed to determine the universal dexterity of the whole historic period. 1891D. Wilson Right Hand 39 To determine the preference for one hand over the other, and so to originate the prevalent law of dexterity. |