Hand — Defs

01 n. 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…

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. See: Manus
2.
That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand
3.
A measure equal to a hand's breadth, -- four inches; a palm. Chiefly used in measuring the height of horses.
4.
Side; part; direction, either right or left.
“On this hand and that hand, were hangings.” — Ex. xxxviii. 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 vi. 36.
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.
“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.” — Shak.

“Some writs require a judge's hand.” — Burril.
9.
Personal possession; ownership; hence, control; direction; management; -- usually in the plural.
“Albinus . . . found means to keep in his hands the government of Britain.” — Milton.
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.
11.
Rate; price.[Obs.]
12.
That which is, or may be, held in a hand at once(Card Playing)
13.
The small part of a gunstock near the lock, which is grasped by the hand in taking aim.(Firearms)
“As fair and as good, a kind of hand in hand comparison.” — Shak.

“Appetites have . . . got such a hand over them.” — Baxter.

“That the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to.” — Deut. xxiii. 20.

02 n. A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly f…

1.
A gambling game played by American Indians, consisting of guessing the whereabouts of bits of ivory or the like, which are passed rapidly from hand to hand.

03 v. t. To give, pass, or transmit with the hand; as, he handed them the letter.

imp. & p. p. Handed; p. pr. & vb. n. Handing

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; as, to hand a lady into a carriage.
3.
To manage; as, I hand my oar.[Obs.]
4.
To seize; to lay hands on.[Obs.]
5.
To pledge by the hand; to handfast.[R.]
6.
To furl; -- said of a sail.(Naut.)

Phrases & compounds

To hand down — to transmit in succession, as from father to son, or from predecessor to successor; as, fables are handed down from age to age; to forward to the proper officer (the decision of a higher court); as, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals handed down its decision.

To hand over — to yield control of; to surrender; to deliver up.

04 v. i. To cooperate.

1.
To cooperate.[Obs.]