Dictionary

handiwork en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈhændiˌwɜːk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈhændiˌwɝk/ (General-American)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *handuz Proto-West Germanic *handu Old English hand Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Germanic *ga- Proto-West Germanic *ga- Old English ġe- Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-om Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom Proto-Germanic *werką Proto-West Germanic *werk Old English weorc Old English ġeweorc Old English handġeweorc Middle English hondywerk English handiwork From Middle English hondywerk, handiwerc, from Old English handġeweorc (“work done by hand, creation”), from hand (“hand”) + ġeweorc (“work”). Equivalent to hand + work, though it may now be reinterpreted as handy (“skilful”) + work. Compare Saterland Frisian Hondwierk, Dutch handwerk, German Handwerk.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Work done by the hands.
2. (uncountable, usually) A handmade object; a handicraft.
   • The Museum of Popular Arts showcases Portugal's finest handiworks.
3. (uncountable, usually) Work done personally.
   • The firmament showeth his handiwork. 1901, Bible (American Standard) - Psalms 19:1
   • The street names are the handiwork of city planners.
4. (uncountable, usually) The result of personal efforts.
   • As a primary architect of the draft Constitution that emerged from Philadelphia in 1787, Madison substantially bore the burden of defending his handiwork in his home state. 2004 Fall, Laurence Claus, “The Antidiscrimination Eighth Amendment”, in Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, volume 28, number 1, pages 119–168:
   • Brunel's associations with the area have left a few examples of his handiwork or teaching in South Wales. 1939 September, D. S. Barrie, “The Railways of South Wales”, in Railway Magazine, page 163:

Forms

Synonyms

handwork (work done by the hands)

Translations (17)

pt trabalho manual (work done by the hands) · fi käsityö (work done by the hands) · hu kézzel végzett munka (work done by the hands) · id kerajinan tangan (work done by the hands) · grc χειρωναξία (work done by the hands) · hu kézimunka (handmade object; handicraft) · bg ръкоделие (work done by the hands) · ru ручная рабо́та (work done by the hands) · hu (keze) munkája (the result of personal efforts) · hu műve (the result of personal efforts) · yue 手工 (work done by the hands) · tr el işi (work done by the hands) · te చేతిపని (work done by the hands) · sq punëdore (work done by the hands) · cmn 手工 (work done by the hands) · te చేసేత (work done by the hands) · es hechura (work done by the hands)