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handless. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
handless, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
handless in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
handless you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Middle English handles, from Old English *handlēas, from Proto-Germanic *handulausaz (“handless”), equivalent to hand + -less. Cognate with West Frisian hânleas (“handless”), German handlos (“handless”), Icelandic handlauss (“handless”).
Adjective
handless (comparative more handless, superlative most handless)
- Without any hands.
c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:Together with his mangled Myrmidons, That noseless, handless, hack'd and chipp'd, come to him
- (obsolete) Not handy; awkward.
1891, Dugald Ferguson, Vicissitudes of Bush Life in Australia and New Zealand, page 55:This, however, was a thing that, left to himself, would have simply rendered Bill Lampiere a most handless workman at everything he attempted.
Translations
Etymology 2
From handleless, by haplology, under the influence of etymology 1 above.
Adjective
handless (not comparable)
- Without a handle.
1812, John Galt, Voyages and travels in the years 1809, 1810, and 1811, page 106:She gave him a few coppers from the handless jug.
1836, The Metropolitan, Volume 15, page 148:One battered, spoutless, handless, japanned-in jug, that did not contain water, for it leaked.
2003, Manners... More than Etiquette, page 91:Chinese soup is sipped in a handless cup (Chinese soup bowl) with its own soupspoon.
2006, Elsieferne V. Stout, Dundy County Babe, page 44:The leftover dough from the loaves would be rolled out with a handless, wooden, rolling pin.
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Anagrams