I'm looking for a singular word (not plural) that can be used to represent both of a person's hands (or all fingers and/or toes). Does such a word exist?
3 Answers
The OP asked:
a word (not plural) that can be used to represent both of a person's hands
Without further clarification, we do not know if the word required is an adjective or a noun, nor how it will be used. If the OP is looking for a word that represents "both hands" then hands is the ideal word. In extremely rare cases do people have more than two hands.
If instead the OP is looking for an anatomically correct word then I would suggest its latin name manūs, but how many people would recognize that word? By the way, the singular form is manus.
Next, I could suggest the easily-understood word appendage but used in the singular it means one appendage, appendages would therefore seem to be the most logical choice. On the other hand, legs happen to be appendages too, so that brings us back to square one. I'm going to stick out my neck and say that such a word does not exist.
(Apologies for resorting to cheap puns but they were supplicating me)
In alternative, if the OP is looking for an expression which involves both hands I offer the following:
Ambidextrous
able to use the right and left hands equally well. (of an implement) designed to be used by left-handed and right-handed people with equal ease.
Ambidexterity Wiki
Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both left and right appendages (such as the hands). It is one of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance. People that are naturally ambidextrous are uncommon, with only one out of one hundred people being naturally ambidextrous [...]
The word "ambidextrous" is derived from the Latin roots ambi-, meaning "both", and dexter, meaning "right" or "favorable". Thus, "ambidextrous" is literally "both right" or "both favorable".
Prehensility Wiki
Prehensility is the quality of an appendage or organ that has adapted for grasping or holding. The word is derived from the Latin term prehendere, meaning "to grasp."
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I think you're right; no such word exists. For context, I am designing an API for software. Since an API should be designed for people to use (not computers), I was looking for a word to describe the object to represent. So it would need to be a noun, but one does not exist. Thanks.– joelsandJun 27, 2014 at 14:56
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@joelsand well I'm sorry you didn't find the word you were looking for, nevertheless you ought to edit your question and include the context. Perhaps another developer/programmer had a similar problem to yours and now has the solution at his fingertips ;-) Jun 27, 2014 at 15:01
Bimanous: Having two hands; two-handed. [1913 Webster]
Pentadactyl: having five digits on each hand or foot
pentadactylate adj./ pentadactylism, n.
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to show a blank), so that people aren't guessing.