| / English Dictionary |
HANDY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: handier , handiest
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
United States blues musician who transcribed and published traditional blues music (1873-1958)
Synonyms:
Handy; W. C. Handy; William Christopher Handy
Classified under:
Instance hypernyms:
composer (someone who composes music as a profession)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Easy to reach
Example:
found a handy spot for the can opener
Synonyms:
handy; ready to hand
Classified under:
Similar:
accessible (capable of being reached)
Derivation:
handiness (the quality of being at hand when needed)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Skillful with the hands
Example:
handy with an axe
Classified under:
Similar:
adroit (quick or skillful or adept in action or thought)
Derivation:
handiness (skillfulness with the hands)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Useful and convenient
Example:
a handy gadget
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
useful; utile (being of use or service)
Context examples:
Because he was handy and would come cheap.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I was not quite such good company during dinner as I could have wished to be, for my chair was opposite the door, and my attention was distracted by observing that the handy young man went out of the room very often, and that his shadow always presented itself, immediately afterwards, on the wall of the entry, with a bottle at its mouth.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
This young girl was so handy, that after I had once or twice pulled off my clothes before her, she was able to dress and undress me, though I never gave her that trouble when she would let me do either myself.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
While the most impressive feature of the device is creating electricity, it also acts as a handy weather station that can tell users data on the amount and direction of snowfall as well as the direction and speed of the wind.
(Nanogenerator Creates Electricity from Snowfall, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
Some of you pretty handy with a handspike-end.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
In the meantime they're willin' to pick up anything eatable that comes handy.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
Mrs. Crupp said, in the first place, of course it was well known she couldn't be expected to wait, but she knew a handy young man, who she thought could be prevailed upon to do it, and whose terms would be five shillings, and what I pleased.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
As for Fanny's being stupid at learning, she could only say it was very unlucky, but some people were stupid, and Fanny must take more pains: she did not know what else was to be done; and, except her being so dull, she must add she saw no harm in the poor little thing, and always found her very handy and quick in carrying messages, and fetching what she wanted.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
By Jove! he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the man’s face, it is not part of my duties to my client, but here’s a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat myself to—
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I cannot promise you a first-rate, but at least it shall be a 64-gun ship, and I can tell you that there is much to be done with a handy, well-manned, well-found 64-gun ship.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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