knack
nounverbattested in dialogue
- //næk//
A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something.
noun
- 1
A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something.
These men had some uncanny knack of knowing when the steel was right, and like many such things, it just could not be put into a textbook on the subject.
The sophist runs for cover to the darkness of what is not and attaches himself to it by some knack of his;
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.
- 2
A petty contrivance; a toy.
- 3
Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity.
Etymology
Late Middle English, use as "special skill" from 1580. Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak, knack (“a sharp sound or blow”), knakke, knakken, from Middle Low German and of imitative origin, similar to Dutch knak (“snap, crack”). Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise; to chink.
If they hear the Beads knack upon each other, that's enough.
- 2
To speak affectedly.
Forms
- plural
- knacks
- past tense
- knacked
- past participle
- knacked
- present participle
- knacking
- third person singular
- knacks
knack · A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something.
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