knack
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Use as "special skill" from 1580.[1] Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak (“a sharp blow”), knakke, knakken, from Low German, by (onomatopoeia). Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
knack (plural knacks)
- A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity.
- 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 254a.
- The sophist runs for conver to the darkness of what is not and attaches himself to it by some knack of his;
- 2011 October 2, Jonathan Jurejko, “Bolton 1 - 5 Chelsea”, BBC Sport:
- And the Premier League's all-time top-goalscoring midfielder proved he has not lost the knack of being in the right place at the right time with a trio of clinical finishes.
- 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 254a.
- A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack.
- Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device.
[edit] Usage notes
Meaning is more of a special aptitude rather than a technique.
[edit] Translations
A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something; skill; facility; dexterity
A petty contrivance; a toy; a plaything; a knickknack
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Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity; a trick; a device
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[edit] References
[edit] Verb
knack (third-person singular simple present knacks, present participle knacking, simple past and past participle knacked)
[edit] Translations
to crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise to chink
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to speak affectedly
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