Clever with the hands, dexterous; skilled, expert.

Of a person: dexterous, skilful, esp. in one's choice of appropriate words. Frequently with in (occasionally at). Now rare.

Sharp (of wit), clever, smart, skilful, adroit, dexterous; neat and finished in action. (So Old High German chleini ‘sagax, versutus, argutus’.)

Having general readiness; handy, ready; skilful, deft, adroit, dexterous.

Well practised, experienced; adept, skilful.

Of speech or action (hence of speakers or agents): Apt, apropos; smart, adroit. Of movements: Dexterous, graceful.

Skilful, dexterous, adroit.

Chiefly U.S. in later use. Of a person: clever, skilled; suited to. Chiefly (and in later use only) modifying an agent noun: that skilfully…

Smart, adroit, clever, nimble, ‘neat’. rare. Cf. trig, adj.1 2.

Exhibiting skill and precision in action or expression. Obsolete.

Having mental adroitness or skill; skilful or expert in contrivance or management; clever.

Physically or (now usually) mentally skilful or resourceful; dexterous, clever, astute.

figurative and in extended use. Skilful, dexterous. Cf. left-handed, adj. 2b. Obsolete. rare.

Of a person: skilful in adapting means to ends, so as to secure the accomplishment of a purpose, adroit. Hence: skilful in taking unfair…

Skilful; industrious; (gen.) neat, smart, attractive.

Skilled or talented, esp. in two or more fields.

Of persons: Possessing skill or talent; able to use hand or brain readily and effectively; dexterous, skilful; adroit. (The current sense.)

Spruce, neat, smart; neatly-made; dexterous.

Adroit, deft, quick, smart; skilful in action or execution. Also (merging with sense 3), glibly clever, having easy assurance. (Of persons.)

Dexterous, skilful. = slick, adj. 4.

Somewhat clever.

Handy, clever, wide-awake. rare.

Using both hands equally well, ambidextrous; dexterous, handy, efficient.

Clever or ingenious; handy, nimble, dexterous.

colloquial (originally U.S.). Accomplished or formidable to a degree which inspires awe. In the construction (by hypallage) to —— a mean —— (as to pa…

Of a person: having one's affairs in order so as to be able to deal with them efficiently. Frequently in to get (oneself) organized.

Used as a deliberate antonym of ‘inept’: adroit, appropriate, effective.