HANDS

picture by FT

I.1.The terminal part of the arm below the wrist,consisting of the palm and five digits, forming the organ of prehension characteristic of man.Also applied to the terminal member of all four limbs in the quadrumanous animals or monkeys. b. The terminal part of the fore-limb in quadrupeds, esp. when prehensile, or of any limb of any animal when prehensile. In Anat. and Zool., the terminal part of the "arm" or fore-limb in all vertebrates above fishes; also, the prehensile claw or chela in crustaceans. ME. +c. transf. The whole arm -1751. +d.The trunk of an elephant -1859. e. fig. 1592. 2. Used to denote possession, custody, charge, authority, power, disposal, O.E. b. Roman Law. The power of the husband over his wife (tr.L.manus) 1875. 3. = Agency, instrumentality O.E. b. Part or share in the doing of something 1597. 4. Side (right or left); hence gen., side, direction, quarter. Also fig. (arch. or dial.) O.E. 5. As used in making a promise or an oath; spec. as the symbol of troth-plight in marriage; pledge of marriage; bestowal in marriage ME. +6. Hence in oaths and asseverations -1636.

[    ]

at hand

by hand

for one's own hand

in hand

off hand

on hand

upon hand

out of hand

to hand

 change hands

 give one's hand

 make a hand

 put one's hand

 better hand

 clean hands

 hand in, hand out

 hands off!

 hands up!

hand and foot

from hand to hand

hand's turn

.

.

.

(from The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary)

You never know if the hands you love are gonna be hands that stroke or hands that strike, 
hands that heal or hands that break, 
hands that conceal or hands that make, 
that hit, take and heap, 
or that show, share and teach, 
hands that take, hide and lie, 
or that guide, seek and write the way, 
hands that preach, that despise and and that cheat, 
or hands that pray, respect and forgive, 
hands that pull the trigger of thunder or touch the keys of pianos, hands that silence men or draw the world again. 


For the time being, I love your hands because they're yours.




(words by FT)