What does "handle" mean?
Handle: About his altar, handling holy things. Milton.
Additional senses
- 2.To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper. Shak.
- 3.To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year. Sir W. Temple.
- 4.To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock.
- 5.To deal with; to make a business of. They that handle the law knew me not. Jer. ii.
- 6.6. To treat; to use, well or ill. How wert thou handled being prisoner. Shak.
- 7.To manage; to control; to practice skill upon. You shall see how I will handle her. Shak.
- 8.To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection. We will handle what persons are apt to envy others. Bacon. To handle without gloves. See under Glove. [Colloq.]
- 9.To use the hands. They have hands, but they handle not. Ps. cxv.
- 10.1. That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc.
- 11.That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool. South. To give a handle, to furnish an occasion or means.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00