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thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology. They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure…

Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.

A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat. In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatics whom his country then possessed. Macaulay.

plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill.

nce (see Distance, n., 3); to leave far behind; to surpass greatly. He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries. Milner.

One skilled in divinity; a theologian. "Poets were the first divines." Denham.

A teacher; one skilled in a profession, or branch of knowledge learned man. [Obs.] One of the doctors of Italy, Nicholas Macciavel. Bacon.

The act of evading by some skillful movement; a sudden starting aside; hence, an artful device to evade, deceive, or cheat; a cunning trick; an artifice. [Colloq.] Some, who have a taste for good living, have many harmless arts, by which they improve their banquet, and innocent dodges, if we may be permitted to use an…

To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to fit ingeniously or complexly. He put together a piece of joinery so crossly indented and whimsically dovetailed . . . that it was indeed a very curious show. Burke.

rm the act, or practice the art, of delineation; to sketch; to form figures or pictures. "Skill in drawing." Locke.

Attention to apparel, or skill in adjusting it. Men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry. Pope.

A dwarf supposed to dwell in rocks and hills and to be skillful in working metals.

ject, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell.

The act or process of educating; the result of educating, as determined by the knowledge skill, or discipline of character, acquired; also, the act or process of training by a prescribed or customary course of study or discipline; as, an education for the bar or the pulpit; he has finished his education. To prepare us…

One skilled in the antiquities of Egypt; a student of Egyptology.

One skilled in embryology.

lly of medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies. Empirical formula. (Chem.) See under Formula.

s, an endeictic dialogue, in the Platonic philosophy, is one which exhibits a specimen of skill. Enfield.

A person skilled in the principles and practice of any branch of engineering. See under Engineering, n.

A person skilled in epidemiology.