[a. mod. F. expert (the adj. used subst.); see EXPERT a.1]
1. One who is expert or has gained skill from experience. Const. at, in, with.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxxiii. (1856), 283. Every man arranged his knapsack and blanket-bag over again with the practiced discretion of an expert. Ibid. (1856), Arct. Expl., I. xi. 24. Hans Cristian … an expert with the kayak and javelin.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxi. 523. Such manors as possessed wood generally containing an expert at hurdle-making.
1882. A. W. Ward, Dickens, iv. 100. He was frank and explicit with experts, in the writer’s art.
2. One whose special knowledge or skill causes him to be regarded as an authority; a specialist. Also attrib., as in expert evidence, witness, etc.
1825. Act 6 Geo. IV., c. 59 § 4. The nomination of experts to ascertain and fix the price.
1858. Sat. Rev., VI. 645/1. Experts in insanity.
1869. Rogers, Adam Smith’s W. N., Pref. I. 11. Misled by the selfish misrepresentations of reputed experts.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 184. Purchase at the price adjudged By experts.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Sept., 6/1. An expert court of first instance which might be of use.
1890. Law Times’ Rep., LXIII. 684/2. A mining engineer and expert of well-known reputation.
b. In recent use esp. One skilled in the study of handwritings.
1858. Sat. Rev., V. 656/1. Professional experts swear to their belief in the peeress’s authorship.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. xix. 385. The obliterated names can scarcely … be read by the most painstaking expert.
1882. J. Netherclift, in Standard, 21 Oct., 2/5. To him [Netherclift] the term ‘Expert’ was first applied.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xiii. My writing was well known; experts swore that the forgery was by me.
