Give+a+handsel+or+earnest+to

  • 1handsel — I. n. [Written also Hansel.] Earnest, first receipts, first fruits, first gift, beginning of fortune, gift with promise. II. v. a. [Written also Hansel.] 1. Give a handsel or earnest to. 2. Use for the first time, do for the first time …

    New dictionary of synonyms

  • 2handsel — I. noun Etymology: Middle English hansell Date: 14th century 1. a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck especially at the beginning of a new year 2. something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck 3. a …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 3handsel — /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

  • 4handsel — 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

  • 5Handsel — Hand sel (h[a^]nd s[e^]l), n. [Written also {hansel}.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See {Sell}, {Sale}. ] 1. A …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6Handsel Monday — Handsel Hand sel (h[a^]nd s[e^]l), n. [Written also {hansel}.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See {Sell}, {Sale} …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7handsel —   n. gift, especially at New Year; first money taken at shop; earnest money; v.t. give handsel; inaugurate with gift, etc.; attempt for first time.    ♦ handseller, n. cheap jack …

    Dictionary of difficult words

  • 8handsel — 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

  • 9hansel — Handsel Hand sel (h[a^]nd s[e^]l), n. [Written also {hansel}.] [OE. handsal, hansal, hansel, AS. handselena giving into hands, or more prob. fr. Icel. handsal; hand hand + sal sale, bargain; akin to AS. sellan to give, deliver. See {Sell}, {Sale} …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 10Security — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Security >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 security security Sgm: N 1 guaranty guaranty guarantee Sgm: N 1 gage gage warranty bond tie pledge plight mortgage debenture …

    English dictionary for students