finesse

Etymology

[circa 1520] From Middle French finesse, from Old French fin (“fine”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fɨˈnɛs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /fɪˈnɛs/, /fəˈnɛs/

Noun

finesse (countable and uncountable, plural finesses)

1. (uncountable) The property of having grace, elegance, skill, or balance.
2. (uncountable) Skill in handling of a situation.
3. (countable) An adroit manoeuvre.
4. (countable, bridge) A technique which allows one to promote tricks based on a favorable position of one or more cards in the hands of the opponent.

Verb

finesse (third-person singular simple present finesses, present participle finessing, simple past and past participle finessed)

1. (transitive, intransitive, card games) To play (a card) as a finesse (see noun sense above).
2. (transitive, intransitive) To handle or manage carefully or skillfully.
3. (transitive) To evade.

See also

• finesse on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Noun

finesse f (plural finesses)

1. fineness (of hair, writing etc.)
2. thinness
3. keenness, sharpness (of blade)
4. fineness, delicacy; slenderness
5. perceptiveness; sensitivity, finesse

Further reading

• “finesse” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).