Meaning

Done with the hand open rather than clenched.

Definitions by Sense

1. Done with the hand open rather than clenched
2. Liberal and generous.
3. Frank, honest, and tolerant.
4. Characterized by looseness and fullness.
5. With an open hand or hands.
6. Generously.
7. simple past and past participle of open-hand

Example Sentences

Hitters use the open-handed tip to try to softly place the ball over the blockers or into other open areas of the opponent's court.

Visual gaze toward the mother was present with the children's earliest gestures, but only in those cases where the gesture was itself directed toward the mother, such as extending objects toward the mother or open-handed reaching or pointing toward objects held by the mother.

And there were other words that stung his ears like hail: 'Slut! Bitch! Whore!' each accompanied by a noise: the open-handed slap that sounded like the tearing ofcalico, the dull thud followed by a gasp as a bunched fist slammed into yielding flesh, the reedy shriek and the gurgling sob -- and eventually the whistling breaths as Jessie climbed the stairs and shouted until she made herself heard that if they didn't stop their racket right this minute then she'd be calling the bobbies.

'No, no,' said the undertaker; 'not an open-handed gentleman in general, by any means. There you mistake him; but an afflicted gentleman, an affectionate gentleman, who knows what it is in the power of money to do, in giving him relief, and in testifying his love and veneration for the departed.'

"I'll do the old gorilla the justice to say that he is open-handed with money."

Despite Gustavus' open-handed dealing, many princes of Europe did not trust him.

She sat there for more than three hours, as sheet after sheet became covered with her open-handed writing.

Winding their way to the land of snow and ice they saw approaching a band of warriors covered with emblems of peace,and, leaving their stony weapons in care of the younger braves, they walked open-handed to meet the strangers.

Word Forms

• more open-handed
• most open-handed
• openhanded

Synonyms for open-handed

Related Words

When Should You Use Open-handed?

Use open-handed when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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