King James Bible Dictionary

SKILL, noun Calleo, that is to strain, stretch, reach, and with to perfect, that is, to make sound, or to reach the utmost limit. The sense of folly, error, sin, preverseness, is from wandering, deviation.

1. The familiar knowledge of any art or science, united with readiness and dexterity in execution or performance, or in the application of the art or science to practical purposes. Thus we speak of the skill of a mathematician, of a surveyor, of a physician or surgeon, of a mechanic or seaman. So we speak of skill in management or negotiation.

2. Any particular art.

SKILL, verb transitive To know; to understand.

SKILL, verb intransitive

1. To be knowing in; to be dextrous in performance.

2. To differ; to make difference; to matter or be of interest.

SKILL'ED, adjective Having familiar knowledge united with readiness and dexterity in the application of it; familiarly acquainted with; followed by in; as a professor skilled in logic or geometry; one skilled in the art of engraving.

SKIL'LESS, adjective Wanting skill; artless.

SKILL'FUL, adjective

1. Knowing; well versed in any art; hence, dextrous; able in management; able to perform nicely any manual operation in the arts or professions; as a skillful mechanic; a skillful operator in surgery.

2. Well versed in practice; as a skillful physician.

It is followed by at or in; as skillful at the organ; skillful in drawing.

SKILL'FULLY, adverb With skill; with nice art; dextrously; as a machine skillfully made; a ship skillfully managed.

SKILL'FULNESS, noun The quality of possessing skill; dextrousness; ability to perform well in any art or business, or to manage affairs with judgement and exactness, or according to good taste or just rules; knowledge and ability derived from experience.

SKIL'LING, noun An isle or bay of a barn; also, a skight addition to a cottage