Etymology Old English handlen, Anglo Saxon handian; akin to Dutch handelen to trade, German handeln. See hand Transitive verb Imperfect and past participle: Handled Present participle: Handling To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand. Quotations Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh - Luke 24:39 About his altar, handling holy things - Milton To manage in using, as a spade or a musket; to wield; often, to manage skillfully. Quotations That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper - Shakespeare, ''King Lear, IV-vi To accustom to the hand; to work upon, or take care of, with the hands. Quotations The hardness of the winters forces the breeders to house and handle their colts six months every year - Sir W. Temple To receive and transfer; to have pass through one's hands; hence, to buy and sell; as, a merchant handles a variety of goods, or a large stock To deal with; to make a business of. Quotations They that handle the law knew me not - ''Jeremiah, 2:8 To treat; to use, well or ill. Quotations How wert thou handled being prisoner - Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part I, I-iv To manage; to control; to practice skill upon. Quotations You shall see how I'll handle her - Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, V-i To use or manage in writing or speaking; to treat, as a theme, an argument, or an objection. Quotations We will handle what persons are apt to envy others - Bacon A nickname or alternate name; used to refer to a person or object in lieu of the formal or given name. Derived expressions To handle without gloves: (Colloquial): See under glove Translations Dutch: aanraken (1), bevoelen (1), hanteren (1), bedienen (2), behandelen (3,5,6,8), onder handen nemen (3), zich bezighouden met (5), onder handen nemen (7), aanpakken (7), Intransitive verb To use the hands Quotations They have hands, but they handle not - ''Psalm 115:7 Noun That part of vessels, instruments, etc., which is held in the hand when used or moved, as the haft of a sword, the knob of a door, the bail of a kettle, etc. That of which use is made; the instrument for effecting a purpose; a tool - South Derived expressions To give a handle: to furnish an occasion or means Translations Dutch: handvat, handgreep, heft French: poignée f (1) German: Griff m (1)