n. 1. Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship. 2. Skillful, subtle handling of a situation; tactful, diplomatic maneuvering. 3. A method of leading up to a tenace, as in bridge, in order to prevent an opponent from winning the trick with an intermediate card. 4. A stratagem in which one appears to decline an advantage. v. fi·nessed, fi·ness·ing, fi·ness·es v.tr. 1. To accomplish by the use of finesse. 2. To handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy. 3. To play (a card) as a finesse. v.intr. 1. To use finesse. 2. To make a finesse in cards. [French, fineness, subtlety, from fin, fine; see FINE1.] |
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