finesse

The story

1. Latin · derived fromfīnis“an end”
2. Old French · derived fromfinesse“a fineness; a delicacy; slenderness”
3. Middle French · derived fromfinesse
4. Middle English · inherited fromfinesse“a degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”
5. English todayfinesse

From Middle English finesse (“a degree of excellence; (of metal) fineness, purity”), from Middle French finesse, Old French finesse (“a fineness; a delicacy; slenderness”), from fine, fin (“fine, thin”) (from Latin fīnis (“an end”); compare Middle English fīn (“of superior quality; precious, valuable; admirable, pleasing; pure, refined; fineness, purity; delicate, exquisite, fine; sharp, thin”)) + -esse (suffix forming nouns describing the condition of being something). The verb is derived from the noun.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from c. 1520 A skill in the handling or manipulation of a situation.
• from mid 16th c. The property of having elegance, grace, refinement, or skill.
• from mid 16th c. An adroit maneuver.
• from early 18th c. In bridge, whist, etc.: a technique which allows one to win a trick, usually by playing a card when it is thought that a card that can beat it is held by another player whose turn is over.
• from mid 18th c. To handle or manage carefully or skilfully; to manipulate in a crafty way.
• from mid 18th c. To attempt to win a trick by finessing.
• from mid 18th c. To play (a card) as a finesse.