I. fə-ˈnes noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from fin
Date: 1528
1. : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture
2. : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering
3. : the withholding of one's highest card or trump in the hope that a lower card will take the trick because the only opposing higher card is in the hand of an opponent who has already played
II. verb
( fi·nessed ; fi·ness·ing )
Date: 1746
intransitive verb
: to make a finesse in playing cards
transitive verb
1. : to play (a card) in a finesse
2.
a. : to bring about, direct, or manage by adroit maneuvering
finesse his way through tight places — Marquis James
b. : evade , skirt
finesse the hard issues