I. ˈskil noun
( -s ; see sense 4 )
Etymology: Middle English skile, skil, from Old Norse skil distinction, discernment, knowledge; akin to Old English scylian to separate, part, Middle Low German schēlen to distinguish, Old Norse skilja to separate, divide, Gothic skilja butcher, Lithuanian skèlti to split — more at shell
1. obsolete : cause , reason
you have as little skill to fear as I have purpose to put you to't — Shakespeare
2.
a.
(1) : knowledge of the means or methods of accomplishing a task
skills disappear … when we fail to put them to work — T.W.Arnold
(2) : the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance : technical expertness : proficiency
revealed considerable skill in the practice of law — Carol L. Thompson
sufficient political skill to govern wisely — J.G.Colton
b. : dexterity, fluency, or coordination in the execution of learned physical or mental tasks
loss of motor skill in the use of the hands — C.D.Martz & Frances Ekstam
specifically : technical competence without insight or understanding or the ability for further elaboration or development
a volume of verses which show some skill in versification, but little originality in thought or form — H.E.Starr
frequently a person acquires certain reading skills but never understands what he has read — John Haverstick
3.
a. : a learned power of doing a thing competently : a developed or acquired aptitude or ability
because of the influence which the language skills exert on each other, the present trend is to teach them together — Education Digest
the endless skills the human hand is capable of developing — Abram Kardiner
b. : a craft requiring the use of related skills
practiced the skill of a carpenter
c. : a coordinated set of actions become smooth and integrated through practice
thought canoeing was not a difficult sport or skill — Ernest Beaglehole
4. plural skill : a skilled person
immigration of skill is … welcomed in all undeveloped areas — E.P.Hutchinson & W.E.Moore
5. dialect Britain : discriminating taste : liking — usually used with of
he has a skill of good wines
Synonyms: see art
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English skilen, from Old Norse skilja to separate, divide
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a difference : matter
perhaps she was a soprano … it skills not — Thomas Wolfe
b. : to be of help : avail
2.
a. obsolete : to have practical skill : be dexterous or competent
b. archaic : to have understanding : be knowing
intransitive verb
dialect England : understand , comprehend