handiwork — something made by hand rather than by machine; work or activity done by a particular person
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: something made by hand rather than by machine; work or activity done by a particular person
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhændiˌwɜːrk/
Example Sentences
- The detective could tell this was the work of a professional - clearly not amateur handiwork.
- My cat knocked over the vase and tried to look innocent, but I recognized his handiwork immediately.
- The intricate embroidery on the wedding dress showed hours of careful handiwork.
handiwork
NOUN[/ˈhændiˌwɜːrk/]
something made by hand rather than by machine; work or activity done by a particular person
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Handiwork originates from Old English 'handgeweorc', a compound word combining 'hand' (the body part) and 'geweorc' (work, craft). The term has been in continuous use since Anglo-Saxon times to denote work produced by manual skill.
Breakdown
hand- (the hand, manual labor) + -work (labor, craft, creation). The compound literally means 'work done by hand,' emphasizing manual skill and craftsmanship.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective could tell this was the work of a professional - clearly not amateur handiwork.”
“My cat knocked over the vase and tried to look innocent, but I recognized his handiwork immediately.”
“The intricate embroidery on the wedding dress showed hours of careful handiwork.”
“When I saw chocolate fingerprints all over the kitchen, I knew this was my little brother's handiwork.”
📚Related Words
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