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Webster 1913 Edition

Skill

Skill

,
Noun.
[Icel.
skil
a distinction, discernment; akin to
skilja
to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw.
skilja
,.
skille
to separate,
skiel
reason, right, justice, Sw.
skäl
reason, Lith.
skelli
to cleave. Cf.
Shell
,
Shoal
, a multitude.]
1.
Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause.
[Obs.]
Shak.
“As it was skill and right.”
Chaucer.
For great
skill
is, he prove that he wrought.
Chaucer.
[For with good reason he should test what he created.]
2.
Knowledge; understanding.
[Obsoles.]
That by his fellowship he color might
Both his estate and love from
skill
of any wight.
Spenser.
Nor want we
skill
or art.
Milton.
3.
The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude;
as, the
skill
of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc.
Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and
skill
at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens.
Swift.
Where patience her sweet
skill
imparts.
Keble.
4.
Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address.
[Obs.]
Richard . . . by a thousand princely
skills
, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return.
Fuller.
5.
Any particular art.
[Obs.]
Learned in one
skill
, and in another kind of learning unskillful.
Hooker.
Syn. – Dexterity; adroitness; expertness; art; aptitude; ability.
–
Skill
,
Dexterity
,
Adroitness
. Skill is more intelligent, denoting familiar knowledge united to readiness of performance. Dexterity, when applied to the body, is more mechanical, and refers to habitual ease of execution. Adroitness involves the same image with dexterity, and differs from it as implaying a general facility of movement (especially in avoidance of danger or in escaping from a difficalty). The same distinctions apply to the figurative sense of the words. A man is skillful in any employment when he understands both its theory and its practice. He is dexterous when he maneuvers with great lightness. He is adroit in the use od quick, sudden, and well-directed movements of the body or the mind, so as to effect the object he has in view.

Skill

,
Verb.
T.
To know; to understand.
[Obs.]
To
skill
the arts of expressing our mind.
Barrow.

Skill

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance.
[Obs.]
I can not
skill
of these thy ways.
Herbert.
2.
To make a difference; to signify; to matter; – used impersonally.
Spenser.
What
skills
it, if a bag of stones or gold
About thy neck do drown thee?
Herbert.
It
skills
not talking of it.
Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1828 Edition

Skill

SKILL

,
Noun.
Calleo, that is to strain, stretch, reach, and with to perfect, that is, to make sound, or to reach the utmost limit. The sense of folly, error, sin, preverseness, is from wandering, deviation.
1.
The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes. Thus we speak of the skill of a mathematician, of a surveyor, of a physician or surgeon, of a mechanic or seaman. So we speak of skill in management or negotiation.
2.
Any particular art.

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