adj
deft
dehft
adj
1
Skillful and quick, especially with the hands.
"The surgeon made a series of deft incisions."
"Her deft handling of the negotiation impressed everyone."
How to Use Deft
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSkilled and precise in movement or handling — nimble and capable.
Common pairings
deft touch
deft hands
deft handling
Word Forms
defter comparative, deftest superlative
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Etymology
From Old English dæfte ("mild, fitting"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "suitable." A doublet of "daft," which took a very different meaning path over the centuries.