Handselled

Handselled
Handsel Hand"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handselled} (h[a^]nd"s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 1. To give a handsel to. [1913 Webster]

2. To use or do for the first time, esp. so as to make fortunate or unfortunate; to try experimentally. [1913 Webster]

No contrivance of our body, but some good man in Scripture hath handseled it with prayer. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • handselled — hand·sel || hænsl v. give a gift; give a cash deposit; inaugurate, use for the first time n. inaugural gift; gift given for good luck at the start of something (particularly at new year); first act of using any thing; first payment for… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Handsel — Hand sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handselled} (h[a^]nd s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 1. To give a handsel… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Handseled — Handsel Hand sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handselled} (h[a^]nd s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 1. To give a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Handseling — Handsel Hand sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handselled} (h[a^]nd s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 1. To give a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Handselling — Handsel Hand sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Handseled} or {Handselled} (h[a^]nd s[e^]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Handseling} or {Handselling}.] [Written also hansel.] [OE handsellen, hansellen; cf. Icel. hadsala, handselja. See {Handsel}, n.] 1. To give a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • handsel — /han seuhl/, n., v., handseled, handseling or (esp. Brit.) handselled, handselling. n. 1. a gift or token for good luck or as an expression of good wishes, as at the beginning of the new year or when entering upon a new situation or enterprise. 2 …   Universalium

  • handsel — /ˈhænsəl/ (say hansuhl) noun 1. a gift or token for good luck or as an expression of good wishes, as at the beginning of the new year, or at entering upon a new state, situation, or enterprise. 2. a first instalment of payment. 3. the first use… …  

  • handsel — [hand′səl, han′səl] n. [ME handsel < OE (rare) handselen, a giving into hand & ON handsal, sealing of a bargain by a handclasp (transl. of L mancipatio: see EMANCIPATION), both < hand + IE base of SELL] 1. a present for good luck, as at the …   English World dictionary

  • handsel — n. & v. (also hansel) n. 1 a gift at the beginning of the new year, or on coming into new circumstances. 2 = EARNEST(2) 1. 3 a foretaste. v.tr. (handselled, handselling; US handseled, handseling) 1 give a handsel to. 2 inaugurate. 3 be the first… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hand|sel — «HAN suhl», noun, verb, seled, sel|ing or (especially British), selled, sel|ling. –n. 1. a) a gift made as a token of good wishes at New Year s or to one entering something new such as a job or house. b) Obsolete. a gift or present given on any… …   Useful english dictionary

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