Verb

To use the hands.

* Psalm 115:7:

They [idols made of gold and silver] have hands, but they handle not

To touch; to feel with the hand.

* Luke 24:39:

Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh.

To use or hold with the hand.

* :

About his altar, handling holy things

To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully.

* Shakespeare, King Lear , IV-vi:

That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper

To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands.

* Sir W. Temple:

The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year

To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell

a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock

To deal with; to make a business of.

* Jeremiah, 2:8:

They that handle the law knew me not

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 16 , author=Denis Campbell , title=Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients' , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=The findings emerged from questionnaires filled in by 2,211 staff in 145 wards of 55 hospitals in England and Wales and 105 observations of care of dementia patients. Two-thirds of staff said they had not had enough training to provide proper care, 50% said they had not been trained how to communicate properly with such patients and 54% had not been told how to handle challenging or aggressive behaviour.}}

To treat; to use, well or ill.

* Shakespeare, Henry VI , Part I, I-iv:

How wert thou handled being prisoner

To manage; to control; to practice skill upon.

* Shakespeare, Measure for Measure , V-i:

You shall see how I'll handle her

To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection.

* :

We will handle what persons are apt to envy others

(soccer) To touch the ball with the hand or arm; to commit handball.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=February 12 , author=Les Roopanarine , title=Birmingham 1 - 0 Stoke , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Robert Huth handled a Bentley shot, only for the offence to go unnoticed.}}

Verb

(gripp)

To take hold of, particularly with the hand.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him.}}

To help or assist, particularly in an emotional sense.

* 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4

By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls. It may have been that these fumes mounted to my head, and gave me courage not my own, but so it was that I lost something of the stifling fear that had gripped me, and could listen with more ease to what was going forward

To do something with another that makes you happy/gives you relief.

To trench; to drain.