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The quality or state of being pert.

Openness; frankness. [Archaic]

Skill derived from practice; readiness; as, expertness in seamanship, or in reasoning.

Want of expertness or skill.

Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with the chisel. In youth quick bearing and dexterity. Shak.

Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]

abusive of freedom; wantonly offensive; as, a licentious press. A wit that no licentious pertness knows. Savage.

, wed-footed, northern birds of the genus Urinator (formerly Colymbus), noted for their expertness in diving and swimming under water. The common loon, or great northern diver (Urinator imber, or Colymbus torquatus), and the red-throated loon or diver (U. septentrionalis), are the best known species. See Diver.…

To behave with pertness. [Obs.] Gauden.

Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness. [R.] "His nice fence and his active practice." Shak.

Forwardness; pertness; petulance. [R.] Burton.

Showing impertinent boldness or pertness; transgressing the rules of decorum; treating superiors with contempt; impudent; insolent; as, a saucy fellow. Am I not protector, saucy priest Shak.

Art, skill, or expertness, regarded as the result of knowledge of laws and principles. His science, coolness, and great strength. G. A. Lawrence.

e to practical purposes; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc. Phocion, . . . by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens. Swift. Where patience her sweet…