From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Hand \Hand\ (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw.
hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h["o]nd, Goth. handus, and
perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. {Hunt}.]
1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in
man and monkeys, and the corresponding part in many other
animals; manus; paw. See {Manus}.
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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; as, the hour or minute
hand of a clock.
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3. A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a
palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
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4. Side; part; direction, either right or left.
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On this hand and that hand, were hangings. --Ex.
xxxviii. 15.
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The Protestants were then on the winning hand.
--Milton.
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5. Power of performance; means of execution; ability; skill;
dexterity.
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He had a great mind to try his hand at a Spectator.
--Addison.
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6. Actual performance; deed; act; workmanship; agency; hence,
manner of performance.
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To change the hand in carrying on the war.
--Clarendon.
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Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my
hand. --Judges vi.
36.
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7. An agent; a servant, or laborer; a workman, trained or
competent for special service or duty; a performer more or
less skillful; as, a deck hand; a farm hand; an old hand
at speaking.
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A dictionary containing a natural history requires
too many hands, as well as too much time, ever to be
hoped for. --Locke.
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I was always reckoned a lively hand at a simile.
--Hazlitt.
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8. Handwriting; style of penmanship; as, a good, bad, or
running hand. Hence, a signature.
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I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand. --Shak.
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Some writs require a judge's hand. --Burril.
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9. Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction;
management; -- usually in the plural. "Receiving in hand
one year's tribute." --Knolles.
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Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the
government of Britain. --Milton.
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10. 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.
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11. Rate; price. [Obs.] "Business is bought at a dear hand,
where there is small dispatch." --Bacon.
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12. That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once; as:
(a) (Card Playing) The quota of cards received from the
dealer.
(b) (Tobacco Manuf.) A bundle of tobacco leaves tied
together.
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13. (Firearms) The small part of a gunstock near the lock,
which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.
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Note: Hand is used figuratively for a large variety of acts
or things, in the doing, or making, or use of which the
hand is in some way employed or concerned; also, as a
symbol to denote various qualities or conditions, as:
(a) Activity; operation; work; -- in distinction from the
head, which implies thought, and the heart, which
implies affection. "His hand will be against every
man." --Gen. xvi. 12.
(b) Power; might; supremacy; -- often in the Scriptures.
"With a mighty hand . . . will I rule over you."
--Ezek. xx. 33.
(c) Fraternal feeling; as, to give, or take, the hand; to
give the right hand.
(d) Contract; -- commonly of marriage; as, to ask the
hand; to pledge the hand.
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Note: Hand is often used adjectively or in compounds (with or
without the hyphen), signifying performed by the hand;
as, hand blow or hand-blow, hand gripe or hand-gripe:
used by, or designed for, the hand; as, hand ball or
handball, hand bow, hand fetter, hand grenade or
hand-grenade, handgun or hand gun, handloom or hand
loom, handmill or hand organ or handorgan, handsaw or
hand saw, hand-weapon: measured or regulated by the
hand; as, handbreadth or hand's breadth, hand gallop or
hand-gallop. Most of the words in the following
paragraph are written either as two words or in
combination.
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{Hand bag}, a satchel; a small bag for carrying books,
papers, parcels, etc.
{Hand basket}, a small or portable basket.
{Hand bell}, a small bell rung by the hand; a table bell.
--Bacon.
{Hand bill}, a small pruning hook. See 4th {Bill}.
{Hand car}. See under {Car}.
{Hand director} (Mus.), an instrument to aid in forming a
good position of the hands and arms when playing on the
piano; a hand guide.
{Hand drop}. See {Wrist drop}.
{Hand gallop}. See under {Gallop}.
{Hand gear} (Mach.), apparatus by means of which a machine,
or parts of a machine, usually operated by other power,
may be operated by hand.
{Hand glass}.
(a) A glass or small glazed frame, for the protection of
plants.
(b) A small mirror with a handle.
{Hand guide}. Same as {Hand director} (above).
{Hand language}, the art of conversing by the hands, esp. as
practiced by the deaf and dumb; dactylology.
{Hand lathe}. See under {Lathe}.
{Hand money}, money paid in hand to bind a contract; earnest
money.
{Hand organ} (Mus.), a barrel organ, operated by a crank
turned by hand.
{Hand plant}. (Bot.) Same as {Hand tree} (below). -- {Hand
rail}, a rail, as in staircases, to hold by. --Gwilt.
{Hand sail}, a sail managed by the hand. --Sir W. Temple.
{Hand screen}, a small screen to be held in the hand.
{Hand screw}, a small jack for raising heavy timbers or
weights; (Carp.) a screw clamp.
{Hand staff} (pl. {Hand staves}), a javelin. --Ezek. xxxix.
9.
{Hand stamp}, a small stamp for dating, addressing, or
canceling papers, envelopes, etc.
{Hand tree} (Bot.), a lofty tree found in Mexico
({Cheirostemon platanoides}), having red flowers whose
stamens unite in the form of a hand.
{Hand vise}, a small vise held in the hand in doing small
work. --Moxon.
{Hand work}, or {Handwork}, work done with the hands, as
distinguished from work done by a machine; handiwork.
{All hands}, everybody; all parties.
{At all hands}, {On all hands}, on all sides; from every
direction; generally.
{At any hand}, {At no hand}, in any (or no) way or direction;
on any account; on no account. "And therefore at no hand
consisting with the safety and interests of humility."
--Jer. Taylor.
{At first hand}, {At second hand}. See def. 10 (above).
{At hand}.
(a) Near in time or place; either present and within
reach, or not far distant. "Your husband is at hand;
I hear his trumpet." --Shak.
(b) Under the hand or bridle. [Obs.] "Horses hot at
hand." --Shak.
{At the hand of}, by the act of; as a gift from. "Shall we
receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive
evil?" --Job ii. 10.
{Bridle hand}. See under {Bridle}.
{By hand}, with the hands, in distinction from
instrumentality of tools, engines, or animals; as, to weed
a garden by hand; to lift, draw, or carry by hand.
{Clean hands}, freedom from guilt, esp. from the guilt of
dishonesty in money matters, or of bribe taking. "He that
hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." --Job
xvii. 9.
{From hand to hand}, from one person to another.
{Hand in hand}.
(a) In union; conjointly; unitedly. --Swift.
(b) Just; fair; equitable.
As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand
comparison. --Shak.
{Hand over hand}, {Hand over fist}, by passing the hands
alternately one before or above another; as, to climb hand
over hand; also, rapidly; as, to come up with a chase hand
over hand.
{Hand over head}, negligently; rashly; without seeing what
one does. [Obs.] --Bacon.
{Hand running}, consecutively; as, he won ten times hand
running.
{Hands off!} keep off! forbear! no interference or meddling!
{Hand to hand}, in close union; in close fight; as, a hand to
hand contest. --Dryden.
{Heavy hand}, severity or oppression.
{In hand}.
(a) Paid down. "A considerable reward in hand, and . . .
a far greater reward hereafter." --Tillotson.
(b) In preparation; taking place. --Chaucer. "Revels . .
. in hand." --Shak.
(c) Under consideration, or in the course of transaction;
as, he has the business in hand.
{In one's hand} or {In one's hands}.
(a) In one's possession or keeping.
(b) At one's risk, or peril; as, I took my life in my
hand.
{Laying on of hands}, a form used in consecrating to office,
in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons.
{Light hand}, gentleness; moderation.
{Note of hand}, a promissory note.
{Off hand}, {Out of hand}, forthwith; without delay,
hesitation, or difficulty; promptly. "She causeth them to
be hanged up out of hand." --Spenser.
{Off one's hands}, out of one's possession or care.
{On hand}, in present possession; as, he has a supply of
goods on hand.
{On one's hands}, in one's possession care, or management.
{Putting the hand under the thigh}, an ancient Jewish
ceremony used in swearing.
{Right hand}, the place of honor, power, and strength.
{Slack hand}, idleness; carelessness; inefficiency; sloth.
{Strict hand}, severe discipline; rigorous government.
{To bear a hand} (Naut.), to give help quickly; to hasten.
{To bear in hand}, to keep in expectation with false
pretenses. [Obs.] --Shak.
{To be hand and glove with} or {To be hand in glove with}.
See under {Glove}.
{To be on the mending hand}, to be convalescent or improving.
{To bring up by hand}, to feed (an infant) without suckling
it.
{To change hand}. See {Change}.
{To change hands}, to change sides, or change owners.
--Hudibras.
{To clap the hands}, to express joy or applause, as by
striking the palms of the hands together.
{To come to hand}, to be received; to be taken into
possession; as, the letter came to hand yesterday.
{To get hand}, to gain influence. [Obs.]
Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them.
--Baxter.
{To get one's hand in}, to make a beginning in a certain
work; to become accustomed to a particular business.
{To have a hand in}, to be concerned in; to have a part or
concern in doing; to have an agency or be employed in.
{To have in hand}.
(a) To have in one's power or control. --Chaucer.
(b) To be engaged upon or occupied with.
{To have one's hands full}, to have in hand all that one can
do, or more than can be done conveniently; to be pressed
with labor or engagements; to be surrounded with
difficulties.
{To have the (higher) upper hand}, or {To get the (higher)
upper hand}, to have, or get, the better of another person or
thing.
{To his hand}, {To my hand}, etc., in readiness; already
prepared. "The work is made to his hands." --Locke.
{To hold hand}, to compete successfully or on even
conditions. [Obs.] --Shak.
{To lay hands on}, to seize; to assault.
{To lend a hand}, to give assistance.
{To lift the hand against}, or {To put forth the hand
against}, to attack; to oppose; to kill.
{To live from hand to mouth}, to obtain food and other
necessaries as want compels, without previous provision.
{To make one's hand}, to gain advantage or profit.
{To put the hand unto}, to steal. --Ex. xxii. 8.
{To put the last hand to} or {To put the finishing hand to},
to make the last corrections in; to complete; to perfect.
{To set the hand to}, to engage in; to undertake.
That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that
thou settest thine hand to. --Deut. xxiii.
20.
{To stand one in hand}, to concern or affect one.
{To strike hands}, to make a contract, or to become surety
for another's debt or good behavior.
{To take in hand}.
(a) To attempt or undertake.
(b) To seize and deal with; as, he took him in hand.
{To wash the hands of}, to disclaim or renounce interest in,
or responsibility for, a person or action; as, to wash
one's hands of a business. --Matt. xxvii. 24.
{Under the hand of}, authenticated by the handwriting or
signature of; as, the deed is executed under the hand and
seal of the owner.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
at hand
adj 1: close in space; within reach; "the town is close at hand"
[syn: {at hand(p)}, {close at hand(p)}]
2: close in time; about to occur; "retribution is at hand";
"some people believe the day of judgment is close at hand";
"in imminent danger"; "his impending retirement" [syn: {at
hand(p)}, {close at hand(p)}, {imminent}, {impendent},
{impending}]
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