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Dec 12, 2006

This week's theme
Words for body parts used figuratively

This week's words
jugulate
forehanded
white-knuckle
leadfoot
skinflint

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forehanded

forehanded (FOR-han-did) adjective

1. Providing for the future needs; prudent.
2. Well-to-do.
3. Made with the palm facing forward (such as a stroke in tennis).

[From forehand, from fore- (front) + hand. From the idea of having worked toward the future.]

A similar, more common, word is "foresighted". Then there is "backhanded" which is not an antonym of "forehanded". Rather, it implies something indirect, ambiguous, and by extension, sarcastic, as in "a backhanded compliment".

"The prospect of this devastating drought might not have turned the tide had not the brewers also made forehanded investments in the politicians of Thatcher's party."
David S. Broder; British Beer Barons Brew Up Big Win in Battle Over Pubs; The Washington Post; Jul 11, 1989.

See more usage examples of forehanded in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

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