two-handed

[ too-han-did ]

adjective

1. having two hands.
2. using both hands equally well; ambidextrous.
3. involving or requiring the use of both hands:

   a two-handed sword; a two-handed backhand.

4. requiring the hands of two persons to operate:

   a two-handed saw.

5. engaged in by two persons:

   a two-handed game.

two-handed

adjective

1. requiring the use of both hands
2. ambidextrous
3. requiring the participation or cooperation of two people

Derived Forms

• ˌtwo-ˈhandedly, adverb

Other Words From

• two-handed·ly adverb
• two-handed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of two-handed¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Bassam reached out and shook my hand, his two-handed grip like a vice—grateful, to be sure, but reaffirming his dominance.

From The Daily Beast

They might have been compared to a rapier and a two-handed broadsword.

From Project Gutenberg

And the foremost of the troop, a thick dwarfish man with a huge two-handed sword, stood aside.

From Project Gutenberg

This gentleman hath a two-handed sword, a good foot longer than that of our friend.

From Project Gutenberg

As he spoke, the two combatants advanced from either end in full armor with their two-handed swords sloping over their shoulders.

From Project Gutenberg

Then we eat our dinner, consisting of the usual chicken and eggs, have a game of two-handed bridge and turn in.

From Project Gutenberg