| Adroit | a. [ F. adroit; à (L. ad) = droit straight, right, fr. L. directus, p. p. of dirigere. See Direct. ] Dexterous in the use of the hands or in the exercise of the mental faculties; exhibiting skill and readiness in avoiding danger or escaping difficulty; ready in invention or execution; -- applied to persons and to acts; as, an adroit mechanic, an adroit reply. “Adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant.” Horsley. “He was adroit in intrigue.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Dexterous; skillful; expert; ready; clever; deft; ingenious; cunning; ready-witted. [ 1913 Webster ] |