finessen.

Brit.

/fᵻˈnɛs/, U.S.

/fᵻˈnɛs/

Forms: late Middle English–1500s fynes, late Middle English–1600s fynesse, 1500s– finesse, 1600s–1700s finess; also Scottish pre-1700 finace, pre-1700 fines, pre-1700 fynace, pre-1700 fynes, pre-1700 fynis.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French finesse.

Etymology: < Middle French, French finesse trick, ruse (1330), subtlety, nicety (a1488), quality of being fine, thin, delicate, etc. (15th cent.; apparently rare in early use), skill (1685), smallness, thinness (1690), superior quality (19th cent. or earlier) < fin fine adj. + -esse -ess suffix². Compare Old Occitan fineza purity, trick, Catalan finesa quality of being fine (1368), Spanish fineza refinement, politeness (1495), Italian finezza the quality of being thin, delicate, refined, or subtle (13th cent.).Early instances in sense 1 could instead be interpreted as showing fineness n. (providing earlier examples of that word), particularly since evidence for Middle French finesse in relevant senses seems scant. In the 15th, and to a lesser extent 16th cent., formations in -ness suffix after a base ending in a non-short vowel + n are commonly (but not exclusively) attested in forms with a single n (compare e.g. plainness n., profaneness n., barrenness n., wantonness n.). However, the absence of any examples of the type *fineness or *finness in this period is striking.

a. The extent or degree to which a metal (esp. gold or silver) is pure; = fineness n. 2a. rare after 17th cent. (now historical).Apparently unattested between the early 18th and mid 20th centuries.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > qualities of metals > [noun] > fineness or purity

toucha1325

finesse1424

finance1473

fineness1532

purity1550

perfection1585

1424 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 6/1 That..the king ger amende the mone and ger stryk it in lik wecht and fynes to the mone of Inglande.

1489–90 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1489 §12. m. 4 Yt causith money..to be made wers in fynes then yt shuld be.

1549 H. Latimer 1st Serm. before Kynges Grace sig. Cv^v The fynes of the siluer I can not se.

1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 44 That it be equivalent, & conforme to the current money of England in wecht & fines.

1685 W. Clark Grand Tryal 237 When he has found this precious Ore,..He of its finesse, and its purity, Makes tryal.

1700–1 Act 12 & 13 William III c. 4 §3 Silver Vessell Plate..less in finess then according to the Standard of this Kingdom.

1944 J. Douglas Gold in Placer i. 5 Pure gold has a finesse of 1,000, and the price of gold is based on that.

2012 J. C. Sammut in J. A. Consiglio et al. Banking & Finance in Mediterranean iii. 52 Paoli..recommended the augmentation of the finesse of the gold coinage.

†b. Superior quality, excellence; purity; clearness (of a liquid); = fineness n. 1a, 2b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > liquid > [noun] > qualities of liquid > purity or clearness

finesse1463

fineness1633

limpidity1656

limpidness1664

society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > precious metal > [noun] > gold or silver > degree of purity of

allaya1325

toucha1325

assayc1430

finesse1463

betternessc1530

alloy1593

standarda1684

sterling1696

titre1839

1463–5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1463 §17. m. 4 The makyng of cloth of the wolles of the growyng of the said reame..was of such trouth, fynesse and parfitnesse that the said cloth excelled the cloth of eny other region or cuntre.

1474–5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 3rd Roll §46. m. 7 The kyng is gretely deceyved..in the fynesse of such clothes.

1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. H b Wyne made hotte, by reason of the clerenes and fynes [L. cum sit rarius et subtilius], ouer cometh a mans brayne the soner.

1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount ii. f. 62^v If you will make a thing of moore finesse than this, make a tarte of Almondes stamped with sugre, and rose water.

1679 Amorous Convert 12 The very Hospitals themselves, exceeding, in riches and finess, the Buildings of most other places.

†c. Opulence, splendour; showiness of dress. Cf. fineness n. 5. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > flashiness or gaudiness > [noun]

finesse1549

garishness1598

gaudiness1601

finery1656

glare1706

snobbery1843

flauntiness1854

flashiness1855

shoddyism1865

loudness1881

obtrusiveness1881

floridity1883

flashness1885

orchidacity1897

pizzazz1937

neon1958

snazziness1961

the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [noun]

boast1297

strut1303

bombancec1325

bobantc1330

bobancec1380

ambitionc1384

oliprancec1390

pretence?a1439

ostentationa1475

pransawtea1500

bravity1546

finesse1549

bravery1573

overlashing1579

brave1596

peacockry1596

garishness1598

maggot ostentation1598

ostent1609

flaunta1625

spectability1637

vantation1637

fastuousness1649

fastuosity1656

finery1656

parade1656

phantastry1656

ostentatiousness1658

éclat1704

pretension1706

braw1724

swell1724

showiness1730

ostensibility1775

fanfaronade1784

display1816

showing off1822

glimmer1827

tigerism1836

peacockery1844

show-off1846

flare1847

peacockism1854

swank1854

tigerishness1869

flashness1888

flamboyance1891

peacockishness1892

flamboyancy1896

swankiness1920

plushness1949

glitziness1982

fantasia-

fantastication-

1549 J. Olde in M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Ephes. Prol. sig. .ii Therefore where vnnecessary fynesse wanteth, accept true meanyng playnesse.

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. 223 Too much finesse and curiositie is not commendable in an Embassadour. And I haue knowen..such of them, as studied more vpon what apparell they should weare..then they did vpon th'effect of their errant.

1609 King James VI & I in Apol. for Oath Allegiance 61 In the latter dayes men shall be feasting, marrying, & at all such worldly finesse, when the last houre shall come in a clappe vpon them.

d. In wine, etc.: delicacy or subtlety of flavour; superior, well-balanced quality.

ΚΠ

1824 tr. A. Jullien Topogr. Vineyards p. xiv Finesse [Fr. finesse], a wine is fine which is light and delicate.

1872 J. L. W. Thudichum & A. Dupré Treat. Origin, Nature & Varieties Wine xii. 421 The Pouilly wine is dry, and possesses finesse and a nice bouquet.

1926 P. M. Shand Bk. Wine v. 133 The wines of Sauvigny..are noted for their perfume, their finesse.

1983 G. Ford Ford's Illustr. Guide Wines, Brews & Spirits xxii. 311/1 Blackberry Liqueur,..pure blackberry brandy often added for flavor and finesse.

2006 Olive Oct. 94/1 The easy-drinking chardonnays, packed with sunshine-filled, peachy fruit but not much subtlety or finesse.

2. Subtlety or tact in handling or manipulating people or difficult situations. Also (esp. in early use): guile, cunning, trickery.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > deep or subtle

deepnessa1000

subtletyc1300

subtlehead1340

subtilitya1393

subtlenessa1398

subtiltyc1405

subtilesse?1473

subtileness1474

finesse1522

sleightness1526

profoundness1605

1522–3 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 85 I knaw..the fynes of the mann, and nayne mayre dowbyll in oure realme.

1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 636 By all his [sc. Sertorius] sutteltie and finesse to kepe the barbarous people in obedience.

1614 P. Forbes Def. Lawful Calling 46 Who setteth any wares a seale, boasting of their fynesse.

1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. 399 To vse hypocrisies and finesse..is the condition of naughtie and ill natured people.

1719 R. Pack tr. Ovid in Misc. Verse & Prose (ed. 2) 152 By Finesse the Greeks did once Destroy The Troops that Rhesus brought to Succour Troy.

1782 E. Pendleton Let. 25 Nov. in Lett. & Papers (1967) II. 430 Such is the consequence of banishing moral Rectitude from Courts, and adopting finesse and Intrigue, other words for lying and deceit, in its stead.

a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. v. 58 She was not experienced enough in the finesse of love.

1869 G. Rawlinson Man. Anc. Hist. 202 He was a master of finesse.

1921 Times 1 Aug. 12/3 Feisal, with the tribal finesse he has learnt and inherited, should be able to keep on fairly good terms with that fine race.

1988 Ebony Dec. 10 I'll always feel..respect for..her finesse in handling her responsibilities as a star and role model.

2000 R. Lerner in K. L. Hall Supreme Court in Amer. Society 233 It took high political finesse to use the grand jury charge as a means of political education.

3. Slenderness, thinness; (also) the quality of being composed of fine particles; delicacy of texture or structure; = fineness n. 3, 7. rare after 17th cent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > granular texture > [noun] > state of being powdery

finesse1551

powderiness1820

the world > matter > constitution of matter > other specific kinds of texture > [noun] > fine texture

finesse1551

fineness1576

the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [noun]

fineness?1537

slendernessa1538

finesse1551

tenuity1578

gracility1623

gracileness1727

exility1750

attenuity1830

1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia ii. sig. I.iiij The smalnese or fynesse of the threde [L. tenuioris fili].

1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 59^v Tamarisk hath much finesse in the partes.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. F1 Copwebs of learning, admirable for the finesse of thread and worke.

1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 66 Sand and Powders of several finesses.

2013 I. C. Dima in I. C. Dima & S. Kot Industr. Production in Flexible Manufacturing Syst. ii. 46/2 Finesse of the thread, stated in ml/gram.

a. A clever or devious stratagem, a trick. Cf. fineness n. 4.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > a wile or cunning device

wrenchc888

craftOE

turnc1225

ginc1275

play?a1300

enginec1300

wrenkc1325

forsetc1330

sleightc1340

knackc1369

cautel138.

subtletya1393

wilea1400

tramc1400

wrinkle1402

artc1405

policy?1406

subtilityc1410

subtiltyc1440

jeopardy1487

jouk1513

pawka1522

frask1524

false point?1528

conveyance1534

compass1540

fineness1546

far-fetch?a1562

stratagem1561

finesse1562

entrapping1564

convoyance1578

lift1592

imagine1594

agitation1600

subtleship1614

artifice1620

navation1628

wimple1638

rig1640

lapwing stratagem1676

feint1679

undercraft1691

fly-flap1726

management1736

fakement1811

old tricka1822

fake1829

trickeration1940

swiftie1945

shrewdie1961

1562 J. Shute tr. in Two Comm. Turcks ii. f. 4 When the Turcke dyd vnderstande this fynesse [It. l'astutia] of Scanderbeg.

1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph ii. ii. 26 Your subtler spirits full of their finesses, Serue their owne turnes in others businesses.

1673 H. Stubbe Further Iustification War against Netherlands 116 As to that secret Article,..the delaies in signing, and delivering it, were a finesse complotted betwixt Cromwel and Holland.

1756 Monitor No. 27. ⁋12 The project..is..as delicate a Finesse in politicks as has been played for many a year.

1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. 281 By way of finesse, she saluted the Admiral.

1839 Times 6 Apr. 5/2 Though cordially sensible to the merits of a bold finesse.

1915 G. Murray Foreign Policy Sir E. Grey ii. 34 It is of course conceivable that by some extraordinary finesse, some dangerous bluff or cunning, a brilliant and unscrupulous minister might have prevented war.

1997 G. Schramm in B. Wegner Peace to War i. i. 16 This statement wasn't new... Lloyd George had already used it as a finesse in the Versailles negotiations.

b. In bridge, whist, and similar games: an attempt to win a trick (trick n. 12) with a card that is not a certain winner, typically by playing it as the third card in a trick in the hope that any card that could beat it is in the hand of an opponent who has already played (see quots. 1862 and 1959).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > [noun] > actions or tactics

finessing1733

finesse1734

Whitechapel play1755

Blue Peter1856

Peter1885

Bath coup1897

Whitechapel1899

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > actions or tactics

echo1862

signal1864

Vienna Coup1864

Peter1885

Bath coup1897

promotion1900

finesse1902

switch1921

false-carding1923

squeeze1926

squeeze play1926

suicide squeeze1931

pseudo-squeeze1932

throw-in1932

suit preference signal1934

underlead1934

psyching1938

ruff and discard1939

hold-up1945

upper cut1955

safety play1959

1734 Boston Weekly News-let. 30 May 1/2 I have a sad run of Luck, nothing but a Finesse can save me.

1764 tr. M. Mons New Treat. Real Quadrille 41 These are finesses very little known at Quadrille, as played the English way.

1862 ‘Cavendish’ Princ. Whist 7 A finesse is an endeavour, by the second or third player, to win a trick (or to force out a winning card) with a low card, though holding a higher one not in sequence.

1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 371/1 Deep finesses should be made when there is no other way of stealing a trick.

1959 T. Reese & A. Dormer Bridge Player's Dict. 89 A finesse is an attempt to profit from a favorable lie of the cards. A player tries to win or establish a trick with a card that is not the highest held by his side.

1997 D. Roth Focus on Def. ii. 46 Playing a low club sets you up for a ruffing finesse on the second round.

2014 Daily Tel. 7 July 24/6 If by some remote chance..it won, and the heart finesse won, and East held ♣K-x-x (or ♣10-9-x), then 3♦ was makeable for +670.

a. Delicacy or subtlety of discrimination or interpretation; refinement; refined grace; (also) an instance of this. N.E.D. (1896) notes: ‘Now rare, and only as a foreign word.’

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [noun]

policya1522

neatness1555

finesse1564

politure1593

polishedness1594

polishment1594

polish1597

polishure1611

refinedness1612

refinement1704

refinery1746

sophistication1915

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of

subtletya1450

subtility1494

election1531

fineness1561

finesse1564

delicacy1678

subtlety1728

nicety1780

subtleness1872

1564 A. Bacon tr. J. Jewel Apol. Churche Eng. sig. Lv The old fynesse and eloquence [L. ueterem in dicendo puritatem atque eloquentiam] that Cicero and Cesar vsed..in the Latin tonge.

a1616 W. Negus Mans Active Obed. (1619) xi. 116 A poysoned and venomous finesse and elegancie of their skill and speech.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Among us, 'tis chiefly used to denote that peculiar kind of Fineness, Delicacy, or Subtlety perceived in Works of the Mind... This man understands all the Finesses of his Art. The Substance and necessary Part of a Language is learnt at a little Expence: 'Tis the Finesses and Delicacies that cost the most.

1791 F. Burney Let. 2 Aug. in Jrnls. & Lett. (1972) I. 15 Her smile, which was rare, had a finesse very engaging.

1821 W. Hazlitt Table-talk I. iv. 90 Tact, finesse, is nothing but the being completely aware of the feeling belonging to certain situations, passions, &c.

1908 E. F. Benson Climber 150 They blurted out unpleasant truths because they had not the finesse to play a delicate part.

1951 N. Pevsner Middlesex 129 The use of the more elegant segmental arch..is already clear indication of Adam's new finesse.

2010 Cathedral Music Nov. 5/1 It was impossible not to respond to the grace and finesse of George's influence from the secondo part.

b. Impressive delicacy and skill. rare before 18th cent.Now the most common sense.

ΚΠ

1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Dial. Yron in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 148^v I doe not speake of the finesse and delicatenesse [Sp. los primores y delicadezas] that there is in sodering of it.

1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica Pref. sig. c2 The Perfection of an Operation shall depend upon a certain Finesse.

1878 in G. P. Lathrop Masque of Poets 31 Where the gold festal goblets stand Carved by Lysippus' rare finesse.

1969 Guardian 15 Sept. 15 It takes more than the manufacture of physical finesse in the East German method to make a winner.

1994 D. Ko Teachers of Inner Chambers vii. 268 General Xue..symbolized Susu's renowned finesse as a horseback archer.

2007 B. Conacher As Puck Turns v. 89 I wanted to sell hockey based on skill and finesse, not brute strength, aggression, intimidation and fear.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

finessev.

Brit.

/fᵻˈnɛs/, U.S.

/fᵻˈnɛs/

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: finesse n.

Etymology: < finesse n. Compare slightly earlier finessing n.

a. In bridge, whist, and similar games.

(a) intransitive. To attempt to win a trick with a finesse (finesse n. 4b).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > play whist [verb (intransitive)] > actions or tactics

finesse1742

to cut in1760

to cut out1771

to save one's pomp1788

to have the call1863

peter1887

cross-ruff1958

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > play bridge [verb (intransitive)] > actions or tactics

echo1885

peter1887

declare1895

false-card1902

finesse1902

to go over1902

to go down1905

switch1906

pass1908

exit1930

break1952

shoot1957

1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist x. 52 By putting on the Queen, it shews your Adversary that you have no Strength in that Suit, and consequently puts him upon finessing upon your Partner.

1752 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 7. ⁋4 I can now return my Partner's Suit, lead through the Honour, Finesse [etc.].

1857 Nassau Lit. Mag. Mar. 276 Suppose that you have no cards with which to finesse.

1885 R. A. Proctor How to play Whist vii. 86 You may finesse more deeply in trumps than in plain suits.

1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 371/1 It is in general unsound to finesse against a card that must be unguarded.

1987 Times of India 19 Apr. (Sunday Review) 7/8 South led the heart jack from dummy and finessed, shutting his eyes.

2005 Asian Age 28 Sept. 16/6 Play a diamond to dummy's ace and finesse through East.

(b) transitive. To play (a particular card) as a finesse.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > play (a card) [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics

finesse1742

ruff1781

unguard1862

cross-ruff1958

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics

declare1895

promote1899

to lead up to1911

to take out1918

squeeze1926

push1927

spread1929

cash1934

overtake1939

underlead1945

finesse1960

1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist x. 52 Your Adversary finesses the Knave.

1759 Whitehall Evening-post 6–8 Dec. Mr. Boscawen finessed the Ten, and then play'd off his Queen.

1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxiv. 382 Mr. Pickwick had not..finessed the heart.

1960 J. Betjeman Summoned by Bells i. 5 If you'd finessed my heart And played your diamond.

1993 N.Y. Times 26 Sept. ix. 17/6 He finesses the spade ten, holding his breath.

2001 Times 29 Mar. ii. 34/3 Should he finesse the jack, playing West for a singleton club (as well as a singleton spade)?

†b. intransitive. Croquet. To play one's ball out of an opponent's way. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > croquet > play croquet [verb (intransitive)] > types of play or stroke

to knock the balls about1864

to take off1872

cut1874

finesse1874

shoot1874

peel1960

1874 J. D. Heath Compl. Croquet-player 65 Blue's best game would be to finesse to the corner near him.

a. transitive. To deal with (a person or thing) by using great delicacy, skill, or cunning; to bring or manipulate (someone or something) subtly or delicately into a specified state. Also with away.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > treat cunningly [verb (transitive)] > achieve or effect by cunning

fox1596

finesse1751

manoeuvre1815

1751 Minutes Proc. Trial Vice-Admiral Griffin 29 The French Commodore had finessed him, by standing to the Southward under his Topsails.

1793 Hapless Orphan I. xxxvi. 181 For several days past, I have been finessed into a temporary happiness, by the assiduity of my friends.

a1817 J. Austen Lady Susan Concl., in Wks. (1954) VI. 313 Till such time as Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered and finessed into an affection.

1851 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice I. xiv. 158 A battlement..may be decorated..or finessed away into traceries.

1941 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 28 Jan. 4/2 Millions of our people believe we are being finessed into this war.

1985 D. R. Hofstadter Metamagical Themas i. 10 The self-reference that is accomplished with such sly trickery in the formal system is finessed into the deceptively simple English word ‘I’.

2008 R. D. Smith T. Ewing Jr. iii. 69 The radicals finessed him by leaving the question of voting rights to a territorial referendum.

b. intransitive. To use finesse, artifice, or a stratagem. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)] > machinate > use a stratagem

to fetch a fetch1559

finesse1756

1756 Mem. Young Lady of Quality II. viii. 263 I have not finessed with him, but have honestly told him the State of my Affairs.

?1778 Conquerors 61 He seems to fly before pursuing foes, But this deep feint from clearest wisdom flows. The flights finesse.

1803 Edinb. Rev. 2 103 Our author can hector as well as finesse.

1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd I. i. 27 She diplomatized and finessed with them as if she had been canvassing the county.

1941 tr. H. Rauschning Conservative Revol. vii. 107 If he [sc. Stresemann] finessed, my friend, it was with his tormentors at home.

c. transitive. Chiefly North American Politics. To try to avoid commitment, circumvent action, or evade responsibility when dealing with (a situation or problem); to address (an issue or question) in a clever or subtle but disingenuous manner.

ΚΠ

1964 Slavic Rev. 23 301 The editors of the series attempted..to finesse the problem of the origin of the Moscow Soviet by sleight of hand.

1977 N.Y. Times 24 May 21 His revival of the..environmental message..[sets] a precedent that future White House incumbents will have difficulty finessing.

1992 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 3 Sept. a7 For years, the country has finessed this problem by leaving it to the politicians to sort out behind closed doors.

1994 New Republic 1 Aug. 7/1 There are matters of policy..that cannot be philosophically finessed.

2014 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 9 Oct. 44/4 Nussbaum finesses the question of whether a liberal society may find itself manipulating..the citizenry..into accepting..liberal values.

Derivatives

fiˈnessed adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > in contrivance or machination > cunningly contrived or devised

compassedc1430

witty1602

machinous1633

finessed1749

1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 204 Adieu all the little refinements of a finessed reluctance.

1851 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice I. xxi. 236 Educated imbecility and finessed foolishness.

1994 G. Santoro Dancing in your Head l. 243 A..man who becomes eloquent about his music when speaking about it and driven to finessed traversings of sonic edges when playing it.

2015 Church Times 27 Mar. 28/1 A finessed interplay..rendered Bach's counterpoint lucid, never clouded.

fiˈnesser n. a schemer, a strategist.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > contrivance or machination > one who

Machiavellist1565

Machiavellian1566

Machiavel1571

designer1598

stratagemitor1602

stratagematist1609

angler1622

artist1648

intriguer1667

volpone1672

finesser1773

manoeuvrera1805

intriguist1830

schemer1846

Machiavelli1849

1773 Hist. Mr. Stanly & Miss Temple I. xxiv. 204 She is so very prudish, that if the dear man was not a compleat finesser—Oh, but he knows how to humour her!

1835 C. M. Sedgwick Linwoods II. xiii. 19 Contriving..like an expert finesser.

1987 N.Y. Mag. 20 July 13/2 Joe Biden, another finesser, was too cute by half.

2015 GQ (Nexis) July 62 You might be..a finesser or a millionaire or a thug, but it wouldn't take me a couple of phone calls to get your mama or your uncle or your people on the phone.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	finesse
释义	finessen. Brit. /fᵻˈnɛs/, U.S. /fᵻˈnɛs/ Forms: late Middle English–1500s fynes, late Middle English–1600s fynesse, 1500s– finesse, 1600s–1700s finess; also Scottish pre-1700 finace, pre-1700 fines, pre-1700 fynace, pre-1700 fynes, pre-1700 fynis. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French finesse. Etymology: < Middle French, French finesse trick, ruse (1330), subtlety, nicety (a1488), quality of being fine, thin, delicate, etc. (15th cent.; apparently rare in early use), skill (1685), smallness, thinness (1690), superior quality (19th cent. or earlier) < fin fine adj. + -esse -ess suffix². Compare Old Occitan fineza purity, trick, Catalan finesa quality of being fine (1368), Spanish fineza refinement, politeness (1495), Italian finezza the quality of being thin, delicate, refined, or subtle (13th cent.).Early instances in sense 1 could instead be interpreted as showing fineness n. (providing earlier examples of that word), particularly since evidence for Middle French finesse in relevant senses seems scant. In the 15th, and to a lesser extent 16th cent., formations in -ness suffix after a base ending in a non-short vowel + n are commonly (but not exclusively) attested in forms with a single n (compare e.g. plainness n., profaneness n., barrenness n., wantonness n.). However, the absence of any examples of the type fineness or finness in this period is striking. 1. a. The extent or degree to which a metal (esp. gold or silver) is pure; = fineness n. 2a. rare after 17th cent. (now historical).Apparently unattested between the early 18th and mid 20th centuries. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > qualities of metals > [noun] > fineness or purity toucha1325 finesse1424 finance1473 fineness1532 purity1550 perfection1585 1424 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1814) II. 6/1 That..the king ger amende the mone and ger stryk it in lik wecht and fynes to the mone of Inglande. 1489–90 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VII (Electronic ed.) Parl. Jan. 1489 §12. m. 4 Yt causith money..to be made wers in fynes then yt shuld be. 1549 H. Latimer 1st Serm. before Kynges Grace sig. Cv^v The fynes of the siluer I can not se. 1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 44 That it be equivalent, & conforme to the current money of England in wecht & fines. 1685 W. Clark Grand Tryal 237 When he has found this precious Ore,..He of its finesse, and its purity, Makes tryal. 1700–1 Act 12 & 13 William III c. 4 §3 Silver Vessell Plate..less in finess then according to the Standard of this Kingdom. 1944 J. Douglas Gold in Placer i. 5 Pure gold has a finesse of 1,000, and the price of gold is based on that. 2012 J. C. Sammut in J. A. Consiglio et al. Banking & Finance in Mediterranean iii. 52 Paoli..recommended the augmentation of the finesse of the gold coinage. †b. Superior quality, excellence; purity; clearness (of a liquid); = fineness n. 1a, 2b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > liquid > [noun] > qualities of liquid > purity or clearness finesse1463 fineness1633 limpidity1656 limpidness1664 society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > precious metal > [noun] > gold or silver > degree of purity of allaya1325 toucha1325 assayc1430 finesse1463 betternessc1530 alloy1593 standarda1684 sterling1696 titre1839 1463–5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Apr. 1463 §17. m. 4 The makyng of cloth of the wolles of the growyng of the said reame..was of such trouth, fynesse and parfitnesse that the said cloth excelled the cloth of eny other region or cuntre. 1474–5 Rolls of Parl.: Edward IV (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1472 3rd Roll §46. m. 7 The kyng is gretely deceyved..in the fynesse of such clothes. 1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano Regimen Sanitatis Salerni sig. H b Wyne made hotte, by reason of the clerenes and fynes [L. cum sit rarius et subtilius], ouer cometh a mans brayne the soner. 1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount ii. f. 62^v If you will make a thing of moore finesse than this, make a tarte of Almondes stamped with sugre, and rose water. 1679 Amorous Convert 12 The very Hospitals themselves, exceeding, in riches and finess, the Buildings of most other places. †c. Opulence, splendour; showiness of dress. Cf. fineness n. 5. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > flashiness or gaudiness > [noun] finesse1549 garishness1598 gaudiness1601 finery1656 glare1706 snobbery1843 flauntiness1854 flashiness1855 shoddyism1865 loudness1881 obtrusiveness1881 floridity1883 flashness1885 orchidacity1897 pizzazz1937 neon1958 snazziness1961 the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > [noun] boast1297 strut1303 bombancec1325 bobantc1330 bobancec1380 ambitionc1384 oliprancec1390 pretence?a1439 ostentationa1475 pransawtea1500 bravity1546 finesse1549 bravery1573 overlashing1579 brave1596 peacockry1596 garishness1598 maggot ostentation1598 ostent1609 flaunta1625 spectability1637 vantation1637 fastuousness1649 fastuosity1656 finery1656 parade1656 phantastry1656 ostentatiousness1658 éclat1704 pretension1706 braw1724 swell1724 showiness1730 ostensibility1775 fanfaronade1784 display1816 showing off1822 glimmer1827 tigerism1836 peacockery1844 show-off1846 flare1847 peacockism1854 swank1854 tigerishness1869 flashness1888 flamboyance1891 peacockishness1892 flamboyancy1896 swankiness1920 plushness1949 glitziness1982 fantasia- fantastication- 1549 J. Olde in M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Ephes. Prol. sig. .ii Therefore where vnnecessary fynesse wanteth, accept true meanyng playnesse. 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. 223 Too much finesse and curiositie is not commendable in an Embassadour. And I haue knowen..such of them, as studied more vpon what apparell they should weare..then they did vpon th'effect of their errant. 1609 King James VI & I in Apol. for Oath Allegiance 61 In the latter dayes men shall be feasting, marrying, & at all such worldly finesse, when the last houre shall come in a clappe vpon them. d. In wine, etc.: delicacy or subtlety of flavour; superior, well-balanced quality. ΚΠ 1824 tr. A. Jullien Topogr. Vineyards p. xiv Finesse [Fr. finesse], a wine is fine which is light and delicate. 1872 J. L. W. Thudichum & A. Dupré Treat. Origin, Nature & Varieties Wine xii. 421 The Pouilly wine is dry, and possesses finesse and a nice bouquet. 1926 P. M. Shand Bk. Wine v. 133 The wines of Sauvigny..are noted for their perfume, their finesse. 1983 G. Ford Ford's Illustr. Guide Wines, Brews & Spirits xxii. 311/1 Blackberry Liqueur,..pure blackberry brandy often added for flavor and finesse. 2006 Olive Oct. 94/1 The easy-drinking chardonnays, packed with sunshine-filled, peachy fruit but not much subtlety or finesse. 2. Subtlety or tact in handling or manipulating people or difficult situations. Also (esp. in early use): guile, cunning, trickery. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > deep or subtle deepnessa1000 subtletyc1300 subtlehead1340 subtilitya1393 subtlenessa1398 subtiltyc1405 subtilesse?1473 subtileness1474 finesse1522 sleightness1526 profoundness1605 1522–3 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 85 I knaw..the fynes of the mann, and nayne mayre dowbyll in oure realme. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 636 By all his [sc. Sertorius] sutteltie and finesse to kepe the barbarous people in obedience. 1614 P. Forbes Def. Lawful Calling 46 Who setteth any wares a seale, boasting of their fynesse. 1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca Deuout Contempl. 399 To vse hypocrisies and finesse..is the condition of naughtie and ill natured people. 1719 R. Pack tr. Ovid in Misc. Verse & Prose (ed. 2) 152 By Finesse the Greeks did once Destroy The Troops that Rhesus brought to Succour Troy. 1782 E. Pendleton Let. 25 Nov. in Lett. & Papers (1967) II. 430 Such is the consequence of banishing moral Rectitude from Courts, and adopting finesse and Intrigue, other words for lying and deceit, in its stead. a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. v. 58 She was not experienced enough in the finesse of love. View more context for this quotation 1869 G. Rawlinson Man. Anc. Hist. 202 He was a master of finesse. 1921 Times 1 Aug. 12/3 Feisal, with the tribal finesse he has learnt and inherited, should be able to keep on fairly good terms with that fine race. 1988 Ebony Dec. 10 I'll always feel..respect for..her finesse in handling her responsibilities as a star and role model. 2000 R. Lerner in K. L. Hall Supreme Court in Amer. Society 233 It took high political finesse to use the grand jury charge as a means of political education. 3. Slenderness, thinness; (also) the quality of being composed of fine particles; delicacy of texture or structure; = fineness n. 3, 7. rare after 17th cent. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > granular texture > [noun] > state of being powdery finesse1551 powderiness1820 the world > matter > constitution of matter > other specific kinds of texture > [noun] > fine texture finesse1551 fineness1576 the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [noun] fineness?1537 slendernessa1538 finesse1551 tenuity1578 gracility1623 gracileness1727 exility1750 attenuity1830 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia ii. sig. I.iiij The smalnese or fynesse of the threde [L. tenuioris fili]. 1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 59^v Tamarisk hath much finesse in the partes. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. F1 Copwebs of learning, admirable for the finesse of thread and worke. View more context for this quotation 1665 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 1 66 Sand and Powders of several finesses. 2013 I. C. Dima in I. C. Dima & S. Kot Industr. Production in Flexible Manufacturing Syst. ii. 46/2 Finesse of the thread, stated in ml/gram. 4. a. A clever or devious stratagem, a trick. Cf. fineness n. 4. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > a wile or cunning device wrenchc888 craftOE turnc1225 ginc1275 play?a1300 enginec1300 wrenkc1325 forsetc1330 sleightc1340 knackc1369 cautel138. subtletya1393 wilea1400 tramc1400 wrinkle1402 artc1405 policy?1406 subtilityc1410 subtiltyc1440 jeopardy1487 jouk1513 pawka1522 frask1524 false point?1528 conveyance1534 compass1540 fineness1546 far-fetch?a1562 stratagem1561 finesse1562 entrapping1564 convoyance1578 lift1592 imagine1594 agitation1600 subtleship1614 artifice1620 navation1628 wimple1638 rig1640 lapwing stratagem1676 feint1679 undercraft1691 fly-flap1726 management1736 fakement1811 old tricka1822 fake1829 trickeration1940 swiftie1945 shrewdie1961 1562 J. Shute tr. in Two Comm. Turcks ii. f. 4 When the Turcke dyd vnderstande this fynesse [It. l'astutia] of Scanderbeg. 1615 S. Daniel Hymens Triumph ii. ii. 26 Your subtler spirits full of their finesses, Serue their owne turnes in others businesses. 1673 H. Stubbe Further Iustification War against Netherlands 116 As to that secret Article,..the delaies in signing, and delivering it, were a finesse complotted betwixt Cromwel and Holland. 1756 Monitor No. 27. ⁋12 The project..is..as delicate a Finesse in politicks as has been played for many a year. 1790 R. Beatson Naval & Mil. Mem. 281 By way of finesse, she saluted the Admiral. 1839 Times 6 Apr. 5/2 Though cordially sensible to the merits of a bold finesse. 1915 G. Murray Foreign Policy Sir E. Grey ii. 34 It is of course conceivable that by some extraordinary finesse, some dangerous bluff or cunning, a brilliant and unscrupulous minister might have prevented war. 1997 G. Schramm in B. Wegner Peace to War i. i. 16 This statement wasn't new... Lloyd George had already used it as a finesse in the Versailles negotiations. b. In bridge, whist, and similar games: an attempt to win a trick (trick n. 12) with a card that is not a certain winner, typically by playing it as the third card in a trick in the hope that any card that could beat it is in the hand of an opponent who has already played (see quots. 1862 and 1959). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > [noun] > actions or tactics finessing1733 finesse1734 Whitechapel play1755 Blue Peter1856 Peter1885 Bath coup1897 Whitechapel1899 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > actions or tactics echo1862 signal1864 Vienna Coup1864 Peter1885 Bath coup1897 promotion1900 finesse1902 switch1921 false-carding1923 squeeze1926 squeeze play1926 suicide squeeze1931 pseudo-squeeze1932 throw-in1932 suit preference signal1934 underlead1934 psyching1938 ruff and discard1939 hold-up1945 upper cut1955 safety play1959 1734 Boston Weekly News-let. 30 May 1/2 I have a sad run of Luck, nothing but a Finesse can save me. 1764 tr. M. Mons New Treat. Real Quadrille 41 These are finesses very little known at Quadrille, as played the English way. 1862 ‘Cavendish’ Princ. Whist 7 A finesse is an endeavour, by the second or third player, to win a trick (or to force out a winning card) with a low card, though holding a higher one not in sequence. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 371/1 Deep finesses should be made when there is no other way of stealing a trick. 1959 T. Reese & A. Dormer Bridge Player's Dict. 89 A finesse is an attempt to profit from a favorable lie of the cards. A player tries to win or establish a trick with a card that is not the highest held by his side. 1997 D. Roth Focus on Def. ii. 46 Playing a low club sets you up for a ruffing finesse on the second round. 2014 Daily Tel. 7 July 24/6 If by some remote chance..it won, and the heart finesse won, and East held ♣K-x-x (or ♣10-9-x), then 3♦ was makeable for +670. 5. a. Delicacy or subtlety of discrimination or interpretation; refinement; refined grace; (also) an instance of this. N.E.D. (1896) notes: ‘Now rare, and only as a foreign word.’ ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [noun] policya1522 neatness1555 finesse1564 politure1593 polishedness1594 polishment1594 polish1597 polishure1611 refinedness1612 refinement1704 refinery1746 sophistication1915 the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [noun] > delicacy of subtletya1450 subtility1494 election1531 fineness1561 finesse1564 delicacy1678 subtlety1728 nicety1780 subtleness1872 1564 A. Bacon tr. J. Jewel Apol. Churche Eng. sig. Lv The old fynesse and eloquence [L. ueterem in dicendo puritatem atque eloquentiam] that Cicero and Cesar vsed..in the Latin tonge. a1616 W. Negus Mans Active Obed. (1619) xi. 116 A poysoned and venomous finesse and elegancie of their skill and speech. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Among us, 'tis chiefly used to denote that peculiar kind of Fineness, Delicacy, or Subtlety perceived in Works of the Mind... This man understands all the Finesses of his Art. The Substance and necessary Part of a Language is learnt at a little Expence: 'Tis the Finesses and Delicacies that cost the most. 1791 F. Burney Let. 2 Aug. in Jrnls. & Lett. (1972) I. 15 Her smile, which was rare, had a finesse very engaging. 1821 W. Hazlitt Table-talk I. iv. 90 Tact, finesse, is nothing but the being completely aware of the feeling belonging to certain situations, passions, &c. 1908 E. F. Benson Climber 150 They blurted out unpleasant truths because they had not the finesse to play a delicate part. 1951 N. Pevsner Middlesex 129 The use of the more elegant segmental arch..is already clear indication of Adam's new finesse. 2010 Cathedral Music Nov. 5/1 It was impossible not to respond to the grace and finesse of George's influence from the secondo part. b. Impressive delicacy and skill. rare before 18th cent.Now the most common sense. ΚΠ 1580 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Dial. Yron in Ioyfull Newes (new ed.) f. 148^v I doe not speake of the finesse and delicatenesse [Sp. los primores y delicadezas] that there is in sodering of it. 1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica Pref. sig. c2 The Perfection of an Operation shall depend upon a certain Finesse. 1878 in G. P. Lathrop Masque of Poets 31 Where the gold festal goblets stand Carved by Lysippus' rare finesse. 1969 Guardian 15 Sept. 15 It takes more than the manufacture of physical finesse in the East German method to make a winner. 1994 D. Ko Teachers of Inner Chambers vii. 268 General Xue..symbolized Susu's renowned finesse as a horseback archer. 2007 B. Conacher As Puck Turns v. 89 I wanted to sell hockey based on skill and finesse, not brute strength, aggression, intimidation and fear. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). finessev. Brit. /fᵻˈnɛs/, U.S. /fᵻˈnɛs/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: finesse n. Etymology: < finesse n. Compare slightly earlier finessing n. 1. a. In bridge, whist, and similar games. (a) intransitive. To attempt to win a trick with a finesse (finesse n. 4b). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > play whist [verb (intransitive)] > actions or tactics finesse1742 to cut in1760 to cut out1771 to save one's pomp1788 to have the call1863 peter1887 cross-ruff1958 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > play bridge [verb (intransitive)] > actions or tactics echo1885 peter1887 declare1895 false-card1902 finesse1902 to go over1902 to go down1905 switch1906 pass1908 exit1930 break1952 shoot1957 1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist x. 52 By putting on the Queen, it shews your Adversary that you have no Strength in that Suit, and consequently puts him upon finessing upon your Partner. 1752 A. Murphy Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 7. ⁋4 I can now return my Partner's Suit, lead through the Honour, Finesse [etc.]. 1857 Nassau Lit. Mag. Mar. 276 Suppose that you have no cards with which to finesse. 1885 R. A. Proctor How to play Whist vii. 86 You may finesse more deeply in trumps than in plain suits. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVI. 371/1 It is in general unsound to finesse against a card that must be unguarded. 1987 Times of India 19 Apr. (Sunday Review) 7/8 South led the heart jack from dummy and finessed, shutting his eyes. 2005 Asian Age 28 Sept. 16/6 Play a diamond to dummy's ace and finesse through East. (b) transitive. To play (a particular card) as a finesse. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > whist > play (a card) [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics finesse1742 ruff1781 unguard1862 cross-ruff1958 society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [verb (transitive)] > actions or tactics declare1895 promote1899 to lead up to1911 to take out1918 squeeze1926 push1927 spread1929 cash1934 overtake1939 underlead1945 finesse1960 1742 E. Hoyle Short Treat. Game Whist x. 52 Your Adversary finesses the Knave. 1759 Whitehall Evening-post 6–8 Dec. Mr. Boscawen finessed the Ten, and then play'd off his Queen. 1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxiv. 382 Mr. Pickwick had not..finessed the heart. 1960 J. Betjeman Summoned by Bells i. 5 If you'd finessed my heart And played your diamond. 1993 N.Y. Times 26 Sept. ix. 17/6 He finesses the spade ten, holding his breath. 2001 Times 29 Mar. ii. 34/3 Should he finesse the jack, playing West for a singleton club (as well as a singleton spade)? †b. intransitive. Croquet. To play one's ball out of an opponent's way. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > croquet > play croquet [verb (intransitive)] > types of play or stroke to knock the balls about1864 to take off1872 cut1874 finesse1874 shoot1874 peel1960 1874 J. D. Heath Compl. Croquet-player 65 Blue's best game would be to finesse to the corner near him. 2. a. transitive. To deal with (a person or thing) by using great delicacy, skill, or cunning; to bring or manipulate (someone or something) subtly or delicately into a specified state. Also with away. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > treat cunningly [verb (transitive)] > achieve or effect by cunning fox1596 finesse1751 manoeuvre1815 1751 Minutes Proc. Trial Vice-Admiral Griffin 29 The French Commodore had finessed him, by standing to the Southward under his Topsails. 1793 Hapless Orphan I. xxxvi. 181 For several days past, I have been finessed into a temporary happiness, by the assiduity of my friends. a1817 J. Austen Lady Susan Concl., in Wks. (1954) VI. 313 Till such time as Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered and finessed into an affection. 1851 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice I. xiv. 158 A battlement..may be decorated..or finessed away into traceries. 1941 Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune 28 Jan. 4/2 Millions of our people believe we are being finessed into this war. 1985 D. R. Hofstadter Metamagical Themas i. 10 The self-reference that is accomplished with such sly trickery in the formal system is finessed into the deceptively simple English word ‘I’. 2008 R. D. Smith T. Ewing Jr. iii. 69 The radicals finessed him by leaving the question of voting rights to a territorial referendum. b. intransitive. To use finesse, artifice, or a stratagem. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)] > machinate > use a stratagem to fetch a fetch1559 finesse1756 1756 Mem. Young Lady of Quality II. viii. 263 I have not finessed with him, but have honestly told him the State of my Affairs. ?1778 Conquerors 61 He seems to fly before pursuing foes, But this deep feint from clearest wisdom flows. The flights finesse. 1803 Edinb. Rev. 2 103 Our author can hector as well as finesse. 1863 M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd I. i. 27 She diplomatized and finessed with them as if she had been canvassing the county. 1941 tr. H. Rauschning Conservative Revol. vii. 107 If he [sc. Stresemann] finessed, my friend, it was with his tormentors at home. c. transitive. Chiefly North American Politics. To try to avoid commitment, circumvent action, or evade responsibility when dealing with (a situation or problem); to address (an issue or question) in a clever or subtle but disingenuous manner. ΚΠ 1964 Slavic Rev. 23 301 The editors of the series attempted..to finesse the problem of the origin of the Moscow Soviet by sleight of hand. 1977 N.Y. Times 24 May 21 His revival of the..environmental message..[sets] a precedent that future White House incumbents will have difficulty finessing. 1992 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 3 Sept. a7 For years, the country has finessed this problem by leaving it to the politicians to sort out behind closed doors. 1994 New Republic 1 Aug. 7/1 There are matters of policy..that cannot be philosophically finessed. 2014 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 9 Oct. 44/4 Nussbaum finesses the question of whether a liberal society may find itself manipulating..the citizenry..into accepting..liberal values. Derivatives fiˈnessed adj. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > in contrivance or machination > cunningly contrived or devised compassedc1430 witty1602 machinous1633 finessed1749 1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure II. 204 Adieu all the little refinements of a finessed reluctance. 1851 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice I. xxi. 236 Educated imbecility and finessed foolishness. 1994 G. Santoro Dancing in your Head l. 243 A..man who becomes eloquent about his music when speaking about it and driven to finessed traversings of sonic edges when playing it. 2015 Church Times 27 Mar. 28/1 A finessed interplay..rendered Bach's counterpoint lucid, never clouded. fiˈnesser n. a schemer, a strategist. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > contrivance or machination > one who Machiavellist1565 Machiavellian1566 Machiavel1571 designer1598 stratagemitor1602 stratagematist1609 angler1622 artist1648 intriguer1667 volpone1672 finesser1773 manoeuvrera1805 intriguist1830 schemer1846 Machiavelli1849 1773 Hist. Mr. Stanly & Miss Temple I. xxiv. 204 She is so very prudish, that if the dear man was not a compleat finesser—Oh, but he knows how to humour her! 1835 C. M. Sedgwick Linwoods II. xiii. 19 Contriving..like an expert finesser. 1987 N.Y. Mag. 20 July 13/2 Joe Biden, another finesser, was too cute by half. 2015 GQ (Nexis) July 62 You might be..a finesser or a millionaire or a thug, but it wouldn't take me a couple of phone calls to get your mama or your uncle or your people on the phone. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1424v.1742
随便看	to takein the to snuff to takein to snuff to takevantage to takevantage of to talk a blue streak to talk a good game to talk a great ball game to talk a person into or out of to talk a person over or round to talk a person through to talk a person up to to talk a streak to talk a thing over to talk a thing up to talk at to talk at rovers to talk baby to talk back to talk bawdy to talk big to talk church to talk cock to talk cold turkey to shut forth to shut head, face