English Explanatory Dictionary

deft

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Quick and neat in action; skillful.

Pronunciation

/dɛft/ en-us-deft.ogg

Word forms

deft defter deftest

Etymology

From Middle English defte, daft (“gentle”), from Old English dæfte (“mild, gentle, meek”), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī (“fitting, suitable”), derived from *dabaną (“to be suitable”). Near cognates include Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆𐍃 (gadōfs, “suitable”), West Frisian deftich (“distinguished”), Dutch deftig (“distinguished”), German deftig (“coarse”). Further cognates include Russian добро (dobro, “wealth, good”) and Latin faber (“craftsman; skillful”). Doublet of daft.

Related words

daft

Derived words

defthanded deft-handed deftly deftness undeft
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