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Dexterous vs Cleanly - What's the difference?

dexterous | cleanly |

As adjectives the difference between dexterous and cleanly

is that dexterous is skillful with one's hands while cleanly is being habitually clean, practising good hygiene.

As an adverb cleanly is

in a clean way.

dexterous

English

Alternative forms

* dextrous

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Skillful with one's hands.
  • Skillful in some specific thing
  • * 1719 ,
    • We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing; and as I was most dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me.
  • Agile; flexible; able to move fluidly and gracefully.

    • Related terms

    * ambidextrous * dexter * dexterity

    See also

    * adroit * active * expert * skillful * clever * able * ready * apt * handy * versed

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    *

    cleanly

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) clenly, clenliche, clanly, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • being habitually clean, practising good hygiene
  • * 1653 , Izaak Walton, The Compleat Angler
    • I'll now lead you to an honest ale-house, where we shall find a cleanly room, lavender in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck about the wall.
  • * Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World
    • There were some flat slabs of rock in the centre, with an excellent well close by, and there we sat in cleanly comfort while we made our first plans for the invasion of this new country.
  • (obsolete) Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc.
  • * Prior
    • With cleanly powder dry their hair.
  • (obsolete) adroit; dexterous; artful
  • * Spenser
    • Through his fine handling and his cleanly play.
    Derived terms
    * cleanliness * uncleanly
    Antonyms
    * uncleanly * dirty

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) clenly, clenli, clenliche, from (etyl) .

    Adverb

    (en-adv)
  • in a clean way
  • neatly
    • He was very cleanly dressed. — Dickens.
  • not causing a mess or unnecessary damage
    • We agreed to break off our relationship cleanly .
    Fortunately, the bullet passed cleanly through your shoulder.
  • innocently; without stain
    • (Shakespeare)
  • adroitly; dexterously
    • (Middleton)