English

Alternative forms

• levelhanded

Adjective

level-handed ‎(comparative more level-handed, superlative most level-handed)

1. Even-handed; fair and balanced.
   • 1990 July 9, James Daly, “Apple developers find Claris reversal tough to swallow”, in Computerworld, volume 24:

     There is the opportunity for Apple to be level-handed and fair, and there is the chance for them not to be.

   • 2001, Grant Tracey, Filmography of American History, ISBN 0313092281, page 287:

     The scenes in which they confront Sister Helen are powerfully balanced--director Tim Robbins presents their passion and pain with a level-handed touch.

   • 2005, Anthony Powell, Some Poets, Artists & 'A Reference for Mellors', ISBN 1857252101, page 186:

     No painter qualifies more than Hogarth as a painter of 'social criticism', but none, at the same time, was more level-handed in his use of that criterion. . If the rich were called to order, the poor were certainly not sentimentalised.

2. (employment, obsolete) With work and earnings shared equally among all workers.
   • 1904, The Engineer - Volume 98, page 143:

     There is practically no level-handed work at present, and therefore level-handed money is not paid.

   • 1925, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wages and Hours of Labor in the Iron and Steel Industry, page 134:

     The custom of level-handed work (two employees dividing the work and pay of one or more occupations evenly) has been increasing in practice since the bureau first made a study of this industry.

   • 1913, Industrial World - Volume 47, Issue 2, page 1337:

     Another matter that is objected to in Mr. Campbell's statement and policy, is his allegation that the puddlers object to employing helpers, prefering level-handed men instead.

3. Even; all parties having the same amount.
   • 1836, The Annual Register, Or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature of the year 1835, page 49:

     Now we are level-handed ; you've got 5l. and I've got 5l.

   • 1847, Alexander Harris, Settlers and convicts; or, Recollections of sixteen years' labour in the Australian Backwoods, page 349:

     “ Yes," I said, “ but you 've been milking mine, and that makes the difference again the other way.” “ Well, say we 're level-handed, and I'll make a chop with you.”

   • 2012, Alfred Hutton, The Sword Through the Centuries, ISBN 0486149722, page 354:

     If the man on the side of the previous victor is successful, the contest is decided ; but if so far the sides are "level-handed," there must be the third bout to end the matter as to who shall carry off the hat.

Adverb

level-handed ‎(not comparable)

1. (employment, obsolete) With work and earnings shared equally.
   • 1922, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wages and Hours of Labor Series - Issues 44-50, page 165:

     In sheet mills the custom of two rollers working level-handed (dividing the pay evenly), instead of one roller working with a helper, has been increasing in recent years.

   • 1869, Justice of the Peace and Local Government Review:

     It would have been possible for them to work “level-handed ” themselves in the absence of the under-hands, and by that means have saved Mr. Johnson considerable expense, annoyance, and inconvenience, but they would not do so without extra pay, and that not being allowed, they went away in a body.

   • 1920, The Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science, page 137:

     Very often, particularly in the boiling department, the journeyman and his helper work “level-handed,” and divide the earnings equally.

2. (cricket) Without a handicap.
   • 2014, John Stern & ‎Marcus Williams, The Essential Wisden: An Anthology of 150 Years of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, ISBN 1408178966:

     ...however incredulous most of us then were as to the chances of success the Colonials would have, all heartily applauded the pluck of young Australia in coming so far to play the game, level-handed, against the well-seasoned skilled cricketers of old England.

   • 1894, Henry Custance, Riding Recollections and Turf Stories, page 119:

     I have got a single-wicket match on with Jackson " — he was the great bookmaker known as " Jock of Fairfield "— " for ,£5." I said : " You are surely not going to play him level-handed?