Skill
Skill , noun
[Icelandic skil a distinction, discernment; akin to skilja to separate, divide, distinguish, Swedish skilja,. skille to separate, skiel reason, right, justice, Swedish skal reason, Lithuanian skelli to cleave. Compare Shell, Shoal, a multitude.]
1.
Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause. [Obsolete] — Chaucer
As it was skill and right.
For great skill is, he prove that he wrought.
2.
Knowledge; understanding. [Obsolescent]
That by his fellowship he color might
Both his estate and love from skill of any wight.
Nor want we skill or art.
3.
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; power to discern and execute; ability to perceive and perform; expertness; aptitude; as, the skill of a mathematician, physician, surgeon, mechanic, etc.
Phocion,... by his great wisdom and skill at negotiations, diverted Alexander from the conquest of Athens.
Where patience her sweet skill imparts.
4.
Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address. [Obsolete]
Richard... by a thousand princely skills, gathering so much corn as if he meant not to return.
5.
Any particular art. [Obsolete]
Learned in one skill, and in another kind of learning unskillful.
Skill , transitive verb
To know; to understand. [Obsolete]
To skill the arts of expressing our mind.
Skill , intransitive verb
1.
To be knowing; to have understanding; to be dexterous in performance. [Obsolete]
I can not skill of these thy ways.
2.
To make a difference; to signify; to matter; -- used impersonally. — Spenser
What skills it, if a bag of stones or gold
About thy neck do drown thee?
It skills not talking of it.