Part 4314

<hw>Fine"ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a fine or finished manner.</def>

<h1>Fineness</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fine"ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[From <er>Fine</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The quality or condition of being fine.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Freedom from foreign matter or alloy; clearness; purity; <as>as, the <ex>fineness</ex> of liquor</as>.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>fineness</b> of the gold, and chargeful fashion. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion, or coins.</def>

<note>&hand; The fineness of United States coin is nine tenths, that of English gold coin is eleven twelfths, and that of English silver coin is <?/.</note>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Keenness or sharpness; <as>as, the <ex>fineness</ex> of a needle's point, or of the edge of a blade</as>.</def>

<h1>Finer</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fin"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who fines or purifies.</def>

<h1>Finery</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fin"er*y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Fineness; beauty.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Don't choose your place of study by the <b>finery</b> of the prospects. <i>I. Watts.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Ornament; decoration; especially, excecially decoration; showy clothes; jewels.</def>

<blockquote>Her mistress' cast-off <b>finery</b>. <i>F. W. Robertson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <ety>[Cf. <er>Refinery</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Iron Works)</fld> <def>A charcoal hearth or furnace for the conversion of cast iron into wrought iron, or into iron suitable for puddling.</def>

<h1>Finespun</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fine"spun`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Spun so as to be fine; drawn to a fine thread; attenuated; hence, unsubstantial; visionary; <as>as, <ex>finespun</ex> theories</as>.</def>

<h1>Finesse</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fi`nesse"</hw> <tt>(? &or; ?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., fr. <ets>fin</ets> fine. See <er>Fine</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem.</def>

<blockquote>This is the artificialest piece of <b>finesse</b> to persuade men into slavery. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Whist Playing)</fld> <def>The act of finessing. See <er>Finesse</er>, <tt>v. i.</tt>, 2.</def>

<h1>Finesse</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fi*nesse"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Finessed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Finessing</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To use artifice or stratagem.</def>

<i>Goldsmith.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Whist Playing)</fld> <def>To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out, risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.</def>

<h1>Finestill</h1> <Xpage=561>

<hw>Fine"still`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To distill, as spirit from molasses or some saccharine preparation.</def>