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adroit
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  • As adroit as he was at gathering a crowd around him, Joe was utterly unable to cast anyone out.†   (source)
  • Her purpose was only too apparent as she made adroit attempts to draw John Holbrook into the discussion.†   (source)
  • He drew his sword and showed it to her; a longsword adroitly shrunken to suit a boy of twelve, gleaming blue steel, castle-forged and double-edged, with a leather grip and a lion's-head pommel in gold.†   (source)
  • It annoyed Gurney, the cunning and adroitness in battle of these natives.†   (source)
  • The judge had been uncomfortable throughout the morning, annoyed by the sensation that he had not performed well, had not conducted the proceedings adroitly.†   (source)
  • He seems to be, and besides, he's left-handed, and to my eyes left-handers at work have always looked adroit.†   (source)
  • In general, Yellin, through adroit handling of the Brute Squad, was able to bring these bad fellows, eventually, under control.†   (source)
  • Ever since their arrival most of them had felt out of their depth among these magnificent, well-fed strangers, with their detached manners, their Shapes on the wall, their elegance, their adroit evasion of almost all questions—above all, their fits of un-rabbit-like melancholy.†   (source)
  • Eragon slipped past Arya's guard with an adroit bit of footwork and a flick of his wrist, which resulted in him slashing Arya across her chest, from shoulder to sternum.†   (source)
  • Until Clevinger was snatched from existence so adroitly, Yossarian had assumed that the men had simply decided unanimously to go AWOL the same day.†   (source)
  • [and] wonderfully adroit in concealing itself from its owner.†   (source)
  • All Shadowhunters were adroit, but she moved now with a silent grace that Clary found oddly chilling.†   (source)
  • I studied its adroit, inexorable images and translated the silent eloquence of its mythology and language so simply and unceasingly uttered in gold.†   (source)
  • He flipped the safety catch on the rifle and steered the raised bayonet adroitly through the turns.†   (source)
  • If he had been fortunate or adroit enough to become a favorite of the people, he might get them to reconsider the effects of term limits.†   (source)
  • Gabriel had yet to take his first bite when Shamron attempted to quiz him on the operation, but Gilah adroitly changed the subject to the children.†   (source)
  • And she can tell that Durrfeld, fetched by the little act but at the same time sensing her discomfort, has brought her demonstration adroitly to an end.†   (source)
  • RHRH — — — — — (he wrenched it rudely but adroitly in a backward curve, almost to the chicken wire; from between the houses, light from the street caught its black side) rhrh — — — — (and swung as rudely round the corner of the barn and, by opposite turn, into the alley, facing eastward, where it stood) rhrh — — — — — — — — (obedient, conquered, malicious as a mule, while he briefly reappeared, faced towards the house, saw her, waved one hand — she waved, but he did not see her — and…†   (source)
  • his adroit replies to hecklers won him many followers
  • an adroit negotiator
  • an adroit technician
  • She is an exceptionally adroit pianist.
    adroit = skilled
  • Seizing adroitly on the name, Poirot said:   (source)
    adroitly = skillfully
  • Poirot managed adroitly to help the good lady to replace the contents of her handbag, and he then shepherded her towards the door.   (source)
  • She'll be adroit enough to lie well, I can see that.†   (source)
  • The return of House Harkonnen to power generally is ascribed to adroit manipulation of the whale fur market and later consolidation with melange wealth from Arrakis.†   (source)
  • There the boy was less adroit, but Haldon was a patient teacher, and Tyrion was able to make himself of use as well.†   (source)
  • He displayed the cigarette holder grandly on every occasion and had learned to manipulate it adroitly.†   (source)
  • "une merveille," even "big" would do, almost anything but "sweet"—and perhaps it was only my glum silence after this which impelled her to begin to stroke and pump me with a zest that mingled the adroitness of a courtesan and a milkmaid.†   (source)
  • "But that is what I have always wished," said Cara, changing her point of attack adroitly.†   (source)
  • He is an adroit shape-shifter and is said to drown people who swim at midnight or at noon.†   (source)
  • By her own quick-wittedness and adroitness she had turned the tables on her would-be destroyer.†   (source)
  • Jinny rides like a gull on the wave, dealing her looks adroitly here and there, saying this, saying that, with truth.†   (source)
  • All this she would adroitly shape; even maliciously twist; and, moving over to the window, in pretence that she must go,—it was dawn, she could see the sun rising,—half turn back, more intimately, but still always laughing, insist that she must, Minta must, they all must marry, since in the whole world whatever laurels might be tossed to her (but Mrs. Ramsay cared not a fig for her painting), or triumphs won by her (probably Mrs. Ramsay had had her share of those), and here she…†   (source)
  • He took it very seriously, tightening this and screwing that, and I looked with wonder at his adroit and nimble fingers and wished that I might see them playing a piano for once.†   (source)
  • 'Thus, in a few seconds, deftly, adroitly, we decipher the hieroglyphs written on other people's faces.†   (source)
  • He adroitly and fiercely swung his rifle.†   (source)
  • I don't know whether that was a blackmailer's adroitness or just a trick of destiny.†   (source)
  • She flung it back with a sudden adroit movement, and her face emerged, smiling.†   (source)
  • He was intelligent, robust, adroit; he did his best; the master seemed pleased.†   (source)
  • In three years he had gone off considerably, though he was still rather handsome and adroit.†   (source)
  • His enemies were as adroit and powerful as any in the East.†   (source)
  • 'Thus it is proved,' said the Shamlegh man adroitly, 'that they are Sahibs of no account.†   (source)
  • He felt young, bright, adroit, and resolute.†   (source)
  • This adroit question touched the heart of Miss Jane Osborne not a little.†   (source)
  • There existed in him two men, the ferocious man and the adroit man.†   (source)
  • I expect he is going to blow me up, and you will shield me," said Fred, with some adroitness.†   (source)
  • Brujon was adroit; Guelemer was vigorous.†   (source)
  • "Be quite easy," he continued playfully, as he adroitly took the gold coin in his palm.†   (source)
  • She had dreaded him, winced before him, succumbed to adroit advantages he took of her helplessness; then, temporarily blinded by his ardent manners, had been stirred to confused surrender awhile: had suddenly despised and disliked him, and had run away.†   (source)
  • Did Lieutenant Ratcliff happen to tell Your Honor of that adroit fling of Budd's, jumping up in the cutter's bow under the merchantman's stern when he was being taken off?†   (source)
  • He now turned his attention to Mrs. Vance, and in a flash Carrie saw again what she for some time had subconsciously missed in Hurstwood— the adroitness and flattery of which he was capable.†   (source)
  • Most people considered Lenehan a leech but, in spite of this reputation, his adroitness and eloquence had always prevented his friends from forming any general policy against him.†   (source)
  • The director had, no doubt, seen the anxiety in K.'s eyes as he tried to cope with this dialect of Italian, he joined in with this conversation in a way that was so adroit and unobtrusive that he seemed to be adding no more than minor comments, whereas in fact he was swiftly and patiently breaking into what the Italian said so that K. could understand.†   (source)
  • All his friends were accustomed to receive, from time to time, letters which called on them for a word of recommendation or introduction, with a diplomatic adroitness which, persisting throughout all his successive 'affairs' and using different pretexts, revealed more glaringly than the clumsiest indiscretion, a permanent trait in his character and an unvarying quest.†   (source)
  • BARBARA [stopping Shirley adroitly as he is about to retort] You wouldn't think he was my father, would you, Peter?†   (source)
  • And suddenly, as Selden noted the fine shades of manner by which she harmonized herself with her surroundings, it flashed on him that, to need such adroit handling, the situation must indeed be desperate.†   (source)
  • "One of our pension acquaintances kindly brought her home," said Miss Bartlett, adroitly concealing the sex of the preserver.†   (source)
  • Though no more Old English than the works of Kipling, it had selected its reminiscences so adroitly that her criticism was lulled, and the guests whom it was nourishing for imperial purposes bore the outer semblance of Parson Adams or Tom Jones.†   (source)
  • Philip had been very adroit, and it was with a heavy heart that he gave up his winning; but his fingers itched to play still, and a few days later, on his way to the football field, he went into a shop and bought a pennyworth of J pens.†   (source)
  • The fact of Madame Olenska's "foreignness" could hardly have been more adroitly emphasised than by this farewell tribute; and Mrs. van der Luyden accepted her displacement with an affability which left no doubt as to her approval.†   (source)
  • As the girl drew nearer to it, she gave without Jude perceiving it, an adroit little suck to the interior of each of her cheeks in succession, by which curious and original manoeuvre she brought as by magic upon its smooth and rotund surface a perfect dimple, which she was able to retain there as long as she continued to smile.†   (source)
  • Watch without rest, without sound, and then, after a few adroit questions on points of detail, he would call out "On guard! on guard," or, if it were the victim himself who had already arrived, and had been obliged, unconsciously, by my grandfather's subtle examination, to admit his origin, then my grandfather, to shew us that he had no longer any doubts, would merely look at us, humming almost inaudibly the air of What! do you hither guide the feet Of this timid Israelite? or of Sweet…†   (source)
  • This discovery at once produced in her a craving for higher guidance, for the adroit feminine hand which should give the right turn to her correspondence, the right "look" to her hats, the right succession to the items of her MENUS.†   (source)
  • It would be, you know, dear," she added with an innocent adroitness, "in Madame Olenska's interest if you did."†   (source)
  • And all manner of actions, from which, until now, he would have recoiled in shame, such as spying, to-night, outside a window, to-morrow, for all he knew, putting adroitly provocative questions to casual witnesses, bribing servants, listening at doors, seemed to him, now, to be precisely on a level with the deciphering of manuscripts, the weighing of evidence, the interpretation of old monuments, that was to say, so many different methods of scientific investigation, each one having a…†   (source)
  • Though usually adroit enough where her own interests were concerned, she made the mistake, not uncommon to persons in whom the social habits are instinctive, of supposing that the inability to acquire them quickly implies a general dulness.†   (source)
  • As life goes on, we acquire such adroitness in the culture of our pleasures, that we content ourselves with that which we derive from thinking of a woman, as I was thinking of Gilberte, without troubling ourselves to ascertain whether the image corresponds to the reality,—and with the pleasure of loving her, without needing to be sure, also, that she loves us; or again that we renounce the pleasure of confessing our passion for her, so as to preserve and enhance the passion that she…†   (source)
  • This double character of the French Revolution is a fact which has been adroitly handled by the friends of absolute power.†   (source)
  • Each time that these hints began to make the countess anxious and she glanced uneasily at the count and at Anna Mikhaylovna, the latter very adroitly turned the conversation to insignificant matters.†   (source)
  • The combination of a certain adroitness with deep-seated earnestness, of tact with consummate ability, gave him his preeminence, and helps him maintain it.†   (source)
  • But Rakitin, in his youthful ardor, made a slight blunder, of which the counsel for the defense at once adroitly took advantage.†   (source)
  • Likewise upon the extreme stern of the boat where it was also triangularly platformed level with the gunwale, Starbuck himself was seen coolly and adroitly balancing himself to the jerking tossings of his chip of a craft, and silently eyeing the vast blue eye of the sea.†   (source)
  • "I suspect you of being an adroit flatterer," said Rosamond, feeling sure that she should have to reject this young gentleman a second time.†   (source)
  • He was an adroit courtier, a great hypocrite, and nothing more; he had no special aptitude for affairs, and no intellect, but he knew how to manage his own business successfully; no one could get the better of him there, and, to be sure, that's the principal thing.†   (source)
  • The animal dropped, electrocuted, and its descent brought it within reach of our adroit hunter, who promptly took possession of it.†   (source)
  • She volunteered to copy many of his letters, and adroitly altered the spelling of them so as to suit the usages of the present day.†   (source)
  • While her back was turned, the bushy-headed and ragged little boy who was playing in the ashes, adroitly approached the drawer, abstracted the crown, and put in its place a dry leaf which he had plucked from a fagot.†   (source)
  • Dowley was in fine feather, and I early got him started, and then adroitly worked him around onto his own history for a text and himself for a hero, and then it was good to sit there and hear him hum.†   (source)
  • THE ADROIT Sans souci, we call the clan Of merry creatures so, then; Go a-foot no more we can, And on our heads we go, then.†   (source)
  • I approached her, pretending to desire a view of the garden; and, as I fancied, adroitly dropped Mrs. Dean's note on to her knee, unnoticed by Hareton — but she asked aloud, 'What is that?'†   (source)
  • The girls doubled so adroitly that their pursuer was against the wall when the fugitives were already half way to the other end.†   (source)
  • Nothing but a becoming blush betrayed the moving thoughts that urged themselves upon her as she accepted the seat next to Mr. Crackenthorp; for she was so instinctively neat and adroit in all her actions, and her pretty lips met each other with such quiet firmness, that it would have been difficult for her to appear agitated.†   (source)
  • Reassured by her mistress' confident tone, Eliza proceeded nimbly and adroitly with her toilet, laughing at her own fears, as she proceeded.†   (source)
  • I have since travelled over England, whence the Americans have taken some of their laws and many of their customs; and it seemed to me that the principle of association was by no means so constantly or so adroitly used in that country.†   (source)
  • Twenty times she seemed almost to be submerged by these mountains of water which rose behind her; but the adroit management of the pilot saved her.†   (source)
  • Fritz, who was the most active and adroit, besides having, of course, the greatest muscular strength, soon became skilled in the art.†   (source)
  • 'Oh! my dearest Meagles!' returned the lady, tapping him on the arm with the green fan and then adroitly interposing it between a yawn and the company, 'how can you, as a man of the world and one of the most business-like of human beings—for you know you are business-like, and a great deal too much for us who are not—'†   (source)
  • If you knew the circumstances against which my mother had to struggle— FRANK [adroitly finishing the sentence for her] I should know why she is what she is, shouldn't I?†   (source)
  • My prudence consists in avoiding and going without, not in the inventing of means and methods, not in adroit steering, not in gentle repairing.†   (source)
  • Then he descended with cautious and slow step, for he dreaded lest an accident similar to that he had so adroitly feigned should happen in reality.†   (source)
  • And the most experienced and adroit painter could not by mere mechanical facility paint anything if the lines of the subject were not revealed to him first.†   (source)
  • By adroit management the wooden float is made to rise on the other side of the mass, so that now having girdled the whale, the chain is readily made to follow suit; and being slipped along the body, is at last locked fast round the smallest part of the tail, at the point of junction with its broad flukes or lobes.†   (source)
  • "The artful little woman!" he said, smiling (with reference to Lucetta's adroit and pleasant manoeuvre with Elizabeth-Jane).†   (source)
  • Patience, humility, and adroitness must, in these growing black youth, replace impulse, manliness, and courage.†   (source)
  • The adroit Canadian spent his time preparing the meat and flour products he had brought from Gueboroa Island.†   (source)
  • He was spoken of as the most adroit, the strongest, and the most courageous contadino for ten leagues around; and although Teresa was universally allowed to be the most beautiful girl of the Sabines, no one had ever spoken to her of love, because it was known that she was beloved by Vampa.†   (source)
  • In a moment the noose left Fritz's adroit hand and fell round her neck; with a single bound she sprang backwards the full length of the cord, the noose drew tight, and she fell to the earth half strangled.†   (source)
  • If Eustache had been more adroit, that is to say, less greedy, he would have continued to wait, and would only have hazarded that simple question, "Mother, can I eat the cake, now?" on their return to the University, to Master Andry Musnier's, Rue Madame la Valence, when he had the two arms of the Seine and the five bridges of the city between the Rat-Hole and the cake.†   (source)
  • He saw, at a glance, that a native adroitness and handiness made the task to her an easier one than it proved to many.†   (source)
  • He every day becomes more adroit and less industrious; so that it may be said of him, that in proportion as the workman improves the man is degraded.†   (source)
  • It happened that the performer who had hitherto formed the base of the Car had quitted the troupe, and as, to fill this part, only strength and adroitness were necessary, Passepartout had been chosen to take his place.†   (source)
  • The difference between talents and character is adroitness to keep the old and trodden round, and power and courage to make a new road to new and better goals.†   (source)
  • Democratic liberty is far from accomplishing all the projects it undertakes, with the skill of an adroit despotism.†   (source)
  • He told her about the election, and Anna knew how by adroit questions to bring him to what gave him most pleasure—his own success.†   (source)
  • This policy was at once both adroit and selfish; but a compromise of this kind could not last; for in the end political institutions never fail to become the image and expression of civil society; and in this sense it may be said that nothing is more political in a nation than its civil legislation.†   (source)
  • Henrique, who valued himself on his gentlemanly adroitness in all matters of gallantry, soon had his fair cousin in the saddle, and, gathering the reins, placed them in her hands.†   (source)
  • That abstracted pedestrian had edged into the slit by the adroit fillip of his person sideways; from the slit he edged into the tavern by a similar exercise of skill.†   (source)
  • The adroit artist was asking Mr. Casaubon questions about English polities, which brought long answers, and, Will meanwhile had perched himself on some steps in the background overlooking all.†   (source)
  • They kept a sharp lookout on the balls served to them, and without haste or getting in each other's way, they ran adroitly up to them, waited for the rebound, and neatly and accurately returned them over the net.†   (source)
  • And leaning over the sculptures with the fascinated air of a demonstrator of living phenomena: "Do you not think, for instance, that yon metamorphosis in bas-relief is executed with much adroitness, delicacy and patience?†   (source)
  • Rawdon, with roars of laughter, related a dozen amusing anecdotes of his duns, and Rebecca's adroit treatment of them.†   (source)
  • Fourthly, it would have been senseless to wish to take captive the Emperor, kings, and dukes—whose capture would have been in the highest degree embarrassing for the Russians, as the most adroit diplomatists of the time (Joseph de Maistre and others) recognized.†   (source)
  • This young man had been hired out by his master to work in a bagging factory, where his adroitness and ingenuity caused him to be considered the first hand in the place.†   (source)
  • With his right he endeavoured to get hold of his antagonist's left arm, which, however, he could not do, so adroitly did Henchard keep it in the rear as he gazed upon the lowered eyes of his fair and slim antagonist.†   (source)
  • "Well," said Mrs. Hackbutt, wheeling adroitly, "all I can say is, that I think she ought to separate from him."†   (source)
  • A few adroit words, one or two knowing tender glances of the eyes, and his heart was inflamed again and his doubts and suspicions forgotten.†   (source)
  • The latter, of whom the reader caught but a glimpse at the Gorbeau house, was a very cunning and very adroit young spark, with a bewildered and plaintive air.†   (source)
  • But he had selected quotations so adroitly that for people who had not read the book (and obviously scarcely anyone had read it) it seemed absolutely clear that the whole book was nothing but a medley of high-flown phrases, not even—as suggested by marks of interrogation—used appropriately, and that the author of the book was a person absolutely without knowledge of the subject.†   (source)
  • Mr. Vincy was very little like a Jesuit, but no accomplished Jesuit could have turned a question more adroitly.†   (source)
  • For, you see, we have adroitly shut the door upon the meeting between Jos and the old father and the poor little gentle sister inside.†   (source)
  • Topsy, with great gravity and adroitness, went through the exercise completely to Miss Ophelia's satisfaction; smoothing the sheets, patting out every wrinkle, and exhibiting, through the whole process, a gravity and seriousness with which her instructress was greatly edified.†   (source)
  • But if the count, getting more and more into the swing of it, charmed the spectators by the unexpectedness of his adroit maneuvers and the agility with which he capered about on his light feet, Marya Dmitrievna produced no less impression by slight exertions—the least effort to move her shoulders or bend her arms when turning, or stamp her foot—which everyone appreciated in view of her size and habitual severity.†   (source)
  • Up to that moment, in the excess of his triumph in the presence of the prey which had been brought down, and which did not stir, the ferocious man had prevailed; when the victim struggled and tried to resist, the adroit man reappeared and took the upper hand.†   (source)
  • "It's an ill wind dat blow nowhar,—dat ar a fact," said Sam, sententiously, giving an additional hoist to his pantaloons, and adroitly substituting a long nail in place of a missing suspender-button, with which effort of mechanical genius he seemed highly delighted.†   (source)
  • The child halted beside the bush, without perceiving Jean Valjean, and tossed up his handful of sous, which, up to that time, he had caught with a good deal of adroitness on the back of his hand.†   (source)
  • …to the nonobservance of the rules, in spite of the fact that to some highly placed Russians it seemed rather disgraceful to fight with a cudgel and they wanted to assume a pose en quarte or en tierce according to all the rules, and to make an adroit thrust en prime, and so on—the cudgel of the people's war was lifted with all its menacing and majestic strength, and without consulting anyone's tastes or rules and regardless of anything else, it rose and fell with stupid simplicity, but…†   (source)
  • Her presence of mind and adroitness in carrying out his hints were admirable, and it is not wonderful that the idea of seeing Rosamond began to mingle itself with his interest in the case.†   (source)
  • Consequently, it would only have been necessary for Metternich, Rumyantsev, or Talleyrand, between a levee and an evening party, to have taken proper pains and written a more adroit note, or for Napoleon to have written to Alexander: "My respected Brother, I consent to restore the duchy to the Duke of Oldenburg"—and there would have been no war.†   (source)
  • On pretence of adjusting the saddle, he adroitly slipped under it the sharp little nut, in such a manner that the least weight brought upon the saddle would annoy the nervous sensibilities of the animal, without leaving any perceptible graze or wound.†   (source)
  • She was quite determined, when she was married, to rid herself adroitly of all the visitors who were not agreeable to her at her father's; and she imagined the drawing-room in her favorite house with various styles of furniture.†   (source)
  • Just then Boris, with his courtierlike adroitness, stepped up to Pierre's side near Kutuzov and in a most natural manner, without raising his voice, said to Pierre, as though continuing an interrupted conversation: "The militia have put on clean white shirts to be ready to die.†   (source)
  • She is ready prey to any man who knows how to play adroitly either on her affectionate ardor or her Quixotic enthusiasm; and a man stands by with that very intention in his mind—a man with no other principle than transient caprice, and who has a personal animosity towards me—I am sure of it—an animosity which is fed by the consciousness of his ingratitude, and which he has constantly vented in ridicule of which I am as well assured as if I had heard it.†   (source)
  • The girl looked timidly at her mother, who, with the smooth adroitness common among her class, answers, "I was telling her, last night, to put up her hair smooth and neat, and not havin' it flying about in curls; looks more respectable so."†   (source)
  • With courtly adroitness de Beausset half turned and without turning his back to the Emperor retired two steps, twitching off the cloth at the same time, and said: "A present to Your Majesty from the Empress."†   (source)
  • With so well-trained a hand and eye, such perfect adroitness and practice in every art which could promote neatness and comfort, and keep out of sight every disagreeable incident of sickness,—with such a perfect sense of time, such a clear, untroubled head, such exact accuracy in remembering every prescription and direction of the doctors,—she was everything to him.†   (source)
  • Sam, upon this, began to bestir himself in real earnest, and after a while appeared, bearing down gloriously towards the house, with Bill and Jerry in a full canter, and adroitly throwing himself off before they had any idea of stopping, he brought them up alongside of the horse-post like a tornado.†   (source)
  • My brother knows him, he's dined with him—the present Emperor—more than once in Paris, and tells me he never met a more cunning or subtle diplomatist—you know, a combination of French adroitness and Italian play-acting!†   (source)
  • "Yes, ma'am," said Topsy, as before;—but we will add, what Miss Ophelia did not see, that, during the time when the good lady's back was turned in the zeal of her manipulations, the young disciple had contrived to snatch a pair of gloves and a ribbon, which she had adroitly slipped into her sleeves, and stood with her hands dutifully folded, as before.†   (source)
  • …should reply: If the people have property outside the city, and see it burnt, they will not remain patient, and the long siege and self-interest will make them forget their prince; to this I answer that a powerful and courageous prince will overcome all such difficulties by giving at one time hope to his subjects that the evil will not be for long, at another time fear of the cruelty of the enemy, then preserving himself adroitly from those subjects who seem to him to be too bold.†   (source)
  • …quarrel, strife, Debonair, courteous, Deceivable, deceitful, Defaded, faded, Default, fault, Defend, forbid,; defended,; forbidden, Defoiled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered, Degree (win the), rank, superiority, Delibered, determined, Deliverly, adroitly, Departed, divided, Departition, departure, Dere, harm, Descrive, describe, Despoiled, stripped, Detrenched, cut to pieces, Devised, looked carefully at, Devoir, duty, service, Did off, doffed, Dight, prepared, Dindled, trembled,…†   (source)
  • …entertaining myths transport the mind and spirit, not up to, but past them, into the yonder void; from which perspective the more heavily freightedtheological dogmas then appear to have been only pedagogical lures: their function, to cart the unadroit intellect away from its concrete clutter of facts and events to a comparatively rarefied zone, where, as a final boon, all existence—whether heavenly, earthly, or infernal—may at last be seen transmuted into the semblance of a lightly…†   (source)
    standard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unadroit means not and reverses the meaning of adroit. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
  • Watching him move, adroit for such a short, heavy man, I felt guilty at the deception.†   (source)
  • Mrs. Graham sprang to her feet to defend the sanctity of her kitchen, and pushing the Reverend adroitly to one side, set about assembling tea things on a tray for the study.†   (source)
  • With an adroit snap he catches it and bites it through with a crack.†   (source)
  • It appeared afterwards that the duke had sworn that if they had not washed him as they had Don Quixote he would have punished them for their impudence, which they adroitly atoned for by soaping him as well.†   (source)
  • And if he had been fortunate or adroit enough to conciliate the good-will of the people, he might induce them to consider as a very odious and unjustifiable restraint upon themselves, a provision which was calculated to debar them of the right of giving a fresh proof of their attachment to a favorite.†   (source)
  • He replied they might say what they liked, for he was not in a state to give advice that would be of any use; all he could tell her was to try and stanch the blood, as he was going where he should never more be seen; and with every appearance of deep grief and sorrow he left the house; but when he found himself alone, and where there was nobody to see him, he crossed himself unceasingly, lost in wonder at the adroitness of Camilla and the consistent acting of Leonela.†   (source)
  • I say so because Don Fernando made all haste to leave me, and by the adroitness of my maid, who was indeed the one who had admitted him, gained the street before daybreak; but on taking leave of me he told me, though not with as much earnestness and fervour as when he came, that I might rest assured of his faith and of the sanctity and sincerity of his oaths; and to confirm his words he drew a rich ring off his finger and placed it upon mine.†   (source)
  • The priest, perplexed and amazed, made haste to examine the wound with both hands, and found that the blade had passed, not through Basilio's flesh and ribs, but through a hollow iron tube full of blood, which he had adroitly fixed at the place, the blood, as was afterwards ascertained, having been so prepared as not to congeal.†   (source)
  • …be distressed about Camilla's accident, for, as they had agreed to hide it from him, the wound was evidently trifling; and that being so, he had no cause for fear, but should henceforward be of good cheer and rejoice with him, seeing that by his means and adroitness he found himself raised to the greatest height of happiness that he could have ventured to hope for, and desired no better pastime than making verses in praise of Camilla that would preserve her name for all time to come.†   (source)
  • A gallant knight shows to advantage bringing his lance to bear adroitly upon a fierce bull under the eyes of his sovereign, in the midst of a spacious plaza; a knight shows to advantage arrayed in glittering armour, pacing the lists before the ladies in some joyous tournament, and all those knights show to advantage that entertain, divert, and, if we may say so, honour the courts of their princes by warlike exercises, or what resemble them; but to greater advantage than all these does…†   (source)
  • The duke came to himself slowly and like one recovering consciousness after a heavy sleep, and the duchess and all who had fallen prostrate about the garden did the same, with such demonstrations of wonder and amazement that they would have almost persuaded one that what they pretended so adroitly in jest had happened to them in reality.†   (source)
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