How Do You Spell HANDSEL?

Pronunciation: [hˈandsə͡l] (IPA)

The word "handsel" is spelled with five letters and pronounced as /ˈhænsəl/ in IPA phonetic transcription. This word has its origin in Old English and Scots, and is commonly used to refer to a gift or token given for good luck. The word is often seen in phrases like “handsel Monday” and “handsel money”. The correct spelling of this word can be tricky, as the "d" often gets dropped in colloquial use. However, it is important to spell the word properly to avoid any confusion in meaning.

HANDSEL Meaning and Definition

  1. The term "handsel" is a noun that refers to a gift or a token of good luck, typically given at the beginning of a venture or on special occasions. This word has its roots in Old English, where it was initially spelled "handselen" or "handselweorc," translating to "a giving of hands" or "a first instalment." The concept of handsel originated from the practice of ceremonially placing something valuable, such as a coin or a small item, into another person's hand to seal an agreement or bring good fortune.

    Today, handsel is commonly associated with gift-giving gestures during significant events like birthdays, weddings, or the start of a new job. It carries the connotation of initiating good luck and success in these endeavors by specially selecting or offering items as a symbol of well wishes. These items may range from small trinkets, symbolic objects, or even substantial monetary gifts.

    Furthermore, the term handsel can also be used in a broader sense to describe any new beginning or first experience that brings prosperity or luck. For instance, a business's first customer or the launch of a new product can be considered a handsel, representing the hopeful start of a prosperous venture.

    Overall, handsel encapsulates the act of presenting a gift or token to celebrate and invoke good fortune at the onset of a significant occasion or enterprise.

  2. • An earnest; money for the first thing sold; something given or done to make good a contract; in Scot., a gift conferred at a particular season, as at or shortly after the new year.
    • To pay an earnest; to use anything for the first time.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for HANDSEL

  • gandsel
  • bandsel
  • nandsel
  • jandsel
  • uandsel
  • yandsel
  • hzndsel
  • hsndsel
  • hwndsel
  • hqndsel
  • habdsel
  • hamdsel
  • hajdsel
  • hahdsel
  • hanssel
  • hanxsel
  • hancsel
  • hanfsel
  • hanrsel

Etymology of HANDSEL

The word "handsel" has an Old English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It comes from the Old English word "handselen" which means "to give into the hand" or "to give as a token or pledge". This word is a combination of "hand" (referring to the human hand) and "selen" (meaning "to give"). Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved, eventually settling on "handsel" as we know it today.

Conjugate verb Handsel

CONDITIONAL

I would handsel
you would handsel
he/she/it would handsel
we would handsel
they would handsel

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be handseling
you would be handseling
he/she/it would be handseling
we would be handseling
they would be handseling

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have handsel
you would have handsel
he/she/it would have handsel
we would have handsel
they would have handsel

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been handseling
you would have been handseling
he/she/it would have been handseling
we would have been handseling
they would have been handseling

FUTURE

I will handsel
you will handsel
he/she/it will handsel
we will handsel
they will handsel

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be handseling
you will be handseling
he/she/it will be handseling
we will be handseling
they will be handseling

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have handseled
you will have handseled
he/she/it will have handseled
we will have handseled
they will have handseled

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been handseling
you will have been handseling
he/she/it will have been handseling
we will have been handseling
they will have been handseling

IMPERATIVE

you handsel
we let´s handsel

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to handsel

PAST

I handseled
you handseled
he/she/it handseled
we handseled
they handseled

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was handseling
you were handseling
he/she/it was handseling
we were handseling
they were handseling

PAST PARTICIPLE

handseled

PAST PERFECT

I had handseled
you had handseled
he/she/it had handseled
we had handseled
they had handseled

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been handseling
you had been handseling
he/she/it had been handseling
we had been handseling
they had been handseling

PRESENT

I handsel
you handsel
he/she/it handsels
we handsel
they handsel

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am handseling
you are handseling
he/she/it is handseling
we are handseling
they are handseling

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

handseling

PRESENT PERFECT

I have handseled
you have handseled
he/she/it has handseled
we have handseled
they have handseled

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been handseling
you have been handseling
he/she/it has been handseling
we have been handseling
they have been handseling

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