handed

[han-did]

adjective

1. having or involving a hand or hands (usually used in combination).

   two-handed backhand; a four-handed piano work.

2. using a particular hand (usually used in combination).

   right-handed.

3. having, requiring, or with the number of people, workers, or players indicated (usually used in combination).

   a three-handed game of poker.

4. manned; staffed (usually used in combination).

-handed

adjective

1. having a hand or hands as specified

   broad-handed

   a four-handed game of cards

2. made as specified for either left- or right-hand operation or positioning

Word History and Origins

Origin of handed¹

First recorded in 1520–30; hand + -ed ³

Example Sentences

For the past 22 years, the news programme has handed over the editorial reins to guest editors during the festive period.

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He may have been a scammer, but we handed over our evidence to the local police to investigate further.

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But three years later the company handed back the licence to the university, following poor results from another gene therapy study and a lack of funds.

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He played a pass-first style handed down from basketball’s earliest days, a tradition that runs from Bob Cousy and Magic Johnson to John Stockton and Jason Kidd.

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They emphasize that concepts of Scandinavian paganism have been handed down for centuries and repeatedly reshaped by different authors and cultural movements.

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