FINESSE

delicacy, diplomacy, discreetness, finesse

(noun) subtly skillful handling of a situation

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Noun

finesse (countable and uncountable, plural finesses)

(uncountable) Skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation. [from c. 1520]

Synonym: finessing

(uncountable) The property of having elegance, grace, refinement, or skill. [from mid 16th c.]

(countable) An adroit manoeuvre. [from mid 16th c.]

(countable, card games) In bridge, whist, etc.: a technique which allows one to win a trick, usually by playing a card when it is thought that a card that can beat it is held by another player whose turn is over. [from early 18th c.]

Verb

finesse (third-person singular simple present finesses, present participle finessing, simple past and past participle finessed)

(transitive, chiefly, Canada, US, politics) To evade (a problem, situation, etc.) by using some clever argument or strategem.

(transitive, card games) To play (a card) as a finesse. [from mid 18th c.]

(ambitransitive) To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way. [from mid 18th c.]

Synonym: zhoosh (slang)

(intransitive, card games) To attempt to win a trick by finessing. [from mid 18th c.]

(intransitive, croquet, obsolete) To play a ball out of the way of an opponent.

Source: Wiktionary

---

Fi`nesse" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., fr. fin fine. See Fine, a.]

1. Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem. This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into slavery. Milton.

2. (Whist Playing)

Definition: The act of finessing. See Finesse, v. i., 2.

Fi*nesse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Finessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Finessing.]

1. To use artifice or stratagem. Goldsmith.

2. (Whist Playing)

Definition: To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins