hand-habend
/ˈhandhabənd/(also hand-having) Law. Now historical
adjective
Chiefly in predicative use. Of a thief: having stolen goods in the hand; that is in the very act of stealing; ‘red-handed’. Also (in attributive use) of a theft: discovered while the thief was in the act of stealing.
Origin
Middle English. From hand + having, probably after Old English aet haebbendre handa.
- attendance centre
- attendant
- attendee
- attender
- attention
- attentional
- attentional deficit
- attention deficit
- attention deficit disorder
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- attention-getter
- attention-getting
- attention-grabber
- attention-grabbing
- attention-seeker
- attention-seeking
- attention span
- attentive
- attentively
- attentiveness
- attenuate
- attenuated
- attenuation
- attenuator
- atter