skill

skill
\ \ [12] Skill etymologically denotes not a physical accomplishment, but the mental capacity to make ‘distinctions’. It was borrowed from Old Norse skildistinction, discernment, knowledge’, whose relatives include Dutch geschildifference’, and which goes back ultimately to the prehistoric Germanic base *skel- ‘divide, separate’ (source also of English scale, shell, shield, etc). The modern English sense emerged in the 13th century.
\ \ Cf.SCALE, SHELL, SHIELD

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Skill — Skill, n. [Icel. skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Sw. skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Sw. sk[ a]l reason, Lith. skelli to cleave. Cf. {Shell}, {Shoal}, a multitude.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skill — W1S3 [skıl] n [U and C] [Date: 1100 1200; : Old Norse; Origin: skil good judgment, knowledge ] an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practised it →↑talent ▪ Reading and writing are two different skills. ▪ Many… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • skill — [ skıl ] noun *** uncount the ability to do something well, usually as a result of experience and training: Most people trust in the skill and dedication of the nursing staff. skill at/in: The committee needs someone who has some skill in… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Skill — Skill, v. t. To know; to understand. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] To skill the arts of expressing our mind. Barrow. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Skill — Skill, v. i. 1. To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] I can not skill of these thy ways. Herbert. [1913 Webster] 2. To make a difference; to signify; to matter; used impersonally. Spenser.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • skill — I noun ability, adeptness, adroitness, aptitude, aptness, art, artistry, cleverness, command, competence, craft, cunning, deftness, dexterity, ease, endowment, excellence, experience, expertness, facility, felicity, finesse, fluency, gift,… …   Law dictionary

  • skill — late 12c., power of discernment, from O.N. skil distinction, discernment, related to skilja (v.) distinguish, separate, from P.Gmc. *skaljo divide, separate (Cf. M.L.G. schillen to differ; M.L.G., M.Du. schele difference; see SHELL (Cf. shell)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • skill — *art, cunning, craft, artifice Analogous words: proficiency, adeptness, expertness (see corresponding adjectives at PROFICIENT): efficiency, effectiveness (see corresponding adjectives at EFFECTIVE): *readiness, facility, dexterity, ease …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • skill — [n] ability, talent to do something accomplishment, address, adroitness, aptitude, art, artistry, cleverness, clout, command, competence, craft, cunning, deftness, dexterity, dodge*, ease, experience, expertise, expertism, expertness, facility,… …   New thesaurus

  • skill — ► NOUN 1) the ability to do something well; expertise or dexterity. 2) a particular ability. ► VERB (usu. as noun skilling) ▪ train (a worker) to do a particular task. ORIGIN Old Norse, discernment, knowledge …   English terms dictionary

  • skill — [skil] n. [ME, discernment, reason < ON skil, distinction, akin to skilja, to cut apart, separate < IE base * (s)kel , to cut (> SHIELD, SHELL): basic sense “ability to separate,” hence “discernment”] 1. great ability or proficiency;… …   English World dictionary

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