a. [ OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. dæft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit, Goth. gadaban to be fit. Cf. Daft, Daff, Dapper. ]
Let me be deft and debonair. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]
The limping god, so deft at his new ministry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. [ Cf. Defly. ] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. “Deftly dancing.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Thyself and office deftly show. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality of being deft. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]