Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FINE-SPUN, a.

Drawn to a fine thread; minute; subtil.

FI-NESS', n. [Fr. finesse; It. finezza; Sp. fineza; properly, fineness.]

Artifice; stratagem; subtilty of contrivance to gain a point.

FI-NESS', v.i.

To use artifice or stratagem.

FI-NESS'ING, ppr.

Practicing artifice to accomplish a purpose.

FINE-STILL, v.t.

To distill spirit from melasses, treacle or some preparation of saccharine matter. Encyc.

FINE'STILL-ER, n.

One who distills spirit from treacle or melasses. Encyc.

FINE-STILL-ING, n.

The operation of distilling spirit from melasses or treacle. Encyc.

FIN'FISH, n.

A species of slender whale.

FIN'FOOT-ED, a.

Having palmated feet, or feet with toes connected by a membrane. Brown.

FIN'GER, n. [fing'ger; Sax. finger, from fengan, to take or seize; G., Sw. and Dan. finger; D. vinger. But n is not radical, for the Goth. is figgrs.]

1. One of the extreme parts of the hand, a small member shooting to a point. The fingers have joints which peculiarly fit them to be instruments of catching, seizing and holding. When we speak of the fingers generally, we include the thumb; as, the five fingers. But we often make a distinction. The fingers and thumb consist of fifteen bones; three to each. The word is applied to some other animals as well as to man.
2. A certain measure. We say a finger's breadth, or the breadth of the four fingers, or of the three fingers.
3. The hand. Waller. Who teacheth my fingers to fight. Ps. cxliv.
4. The finger or fingers of God in Scripture, signer his power, strength or operation. The magicians sold to Pharaoh, this is the finger of God. Exod. viii.
5. In music, ability; skill in playing on a keyed instrument. She has a good finger. Busby.

FIN'GER, v.i.

To dispose the fingers aptly in playing on an instrument. Busby.

FIN'GER, v.t.

1. To handle with the fingers; to touch lightly; to toy. The covetous man delights to finger money.
2. To touch or take thievishly; to pilfer. South.
3. To touch an instrument of music; to play on an instrument. Shak.
4. To perform work with the fingers; to execute delicate work.
5. To handle without violence. Bp. Hall.

FIN'GER-BOARD, n.

The board at the neck of a violin, guitar or the like, where the fingers act on the strings. Wood.

FIN'GER-ED, pp.

1. Played on; handled; touched.
2. adj. Having fingers. In botany, digitate; having leaflets like fingers.

FIN'GER-FERN, n.

A plant, asplenium. Johnson.

FIN'GER-ING, n.

1. 1. The act of touching lightly or handling. Grew.
2. The manner of touching an instrument of music. Shak.
3. Delicate work made with the fingers. Spenser.

FIN'GER-ING, ppr.

Handling; touching lightly.

FIN'GER-POST, n.

A post with a finger pointing, for directing passengers to the road.

FIN'GER-SHELL, n.

A marine shell resembling a finger. Dict. of Nat. Hist.

FIN'GER-STONE, n.

A fossil resembling an arrow. Johnson.

FIN'GLE-FAN-GLE, n.

A trifle. [Vulgar.] Hudibras.

FIN'GRI-GO, n.

A plant, of the genus Fisonia. The fruit is a kind of berry or plum. Lee. Ed. Encyc.

FIN'I-AL, n. [L. finio, to finish.]

The knot or branch of foliage, or flower, that forms the upper extremities of pinnacles in Gothic architecture. Elms.

FIN'I-CAL, a. [from fine.]

1. Nice; spruce; foppish; pretending to great nicety or superfluous elegance; as, a finical fellow.
2. Affectedly nice or showy; as, a finical dress.

FIN'I-CAL-LY, adv.

With great nicety or spruceness; foppishly.