Shahi - A visual dictionary

hand

See also Hand

(noun)
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See manus.
2. That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as,
  (a) A limb of certain animals, as the foot of a hawk, or any one of the four extremities of a monkey.
  (b) An index or pointer on a dial; such as the hour or minute hand of a clock
3. In long measure, two different lengths:
  - Three inches, not to be confused with; and,
  - Four inches, a hand’s breadth, used in measuring the height of horses.
4. A side; part, camp; direction, either right or left.
  - On this hand and that hand, were hangings. — Exodus 38:15
  - The Protestants were then on the winning hand — Milton
5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill; dexterity.
  - He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator. — Addison
6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence, manner of performance.
  - To change the hand in carrying on the war. — Clarendon
  - Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand. — Judges 6:36
7. An agent; a servant, or manual laborer, especially in compounds; a workman, trained or competent for special service or duty; a performer more or less skillful; as,
  an old hand at speaking.
  - A dictionary containing a natural history requires too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be hoped for. — Locke
  - I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile. — Hazlitt
8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as,
  A good, bad or running hand. Hence, a signature.
  - I say she never did invent this letter; This is a man’s invention and his hand — Shakespeare, As You Like It, IV-iii
  - Some writs require a judge’s hand — Burril
  - 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
    I found written on the other side, in a very good, clear hand, this short message...
9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; — usually in the plural.
  - Receiving in hand one year’s tribute. — Knolles
  - Milton, Albinus
    ...found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.
10. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as
  (a) : The set of cards held by a player.
  (b) (Tobacco Manufacturing): A bundle of tobacco leaves tied together.
11. Applause.
  Give him a hand.
12. Agency in transmission from one person to another; as,
  to buy at first hand, that is, from the producer, or when new; at second hand, that is, when no longer in the producer’s hand, or when not new.
13. Rate; price.
  - Business is bought at a dear hand, where there is small dispatch. — Bacon
14. Each of the pointers on the face of an analog clock, which are used to indicate the time of day.
15. The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
16. The collective noun for a bunch of bananas.
(verb)
1. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as
  he handed them the letter.
2. To lead, guide, or assist with the hand; to conduct
  to hand a lady into a carriage.
3. To manage; as, I hand my oar. — Prior
4. To seize; to lay hands on. — Shakespeare
5. To pledge by the hand; to handfast.
6. To furl; — said of a sail. — Totten
7. To cooperate. — Massinger

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