Adroit, a.
Etymology: [F. adroit; à (L. ad) = droit straight, right, fr. L. directus, p. p. of dirigere. See Direct.]
Dexterous in the use of the hands or in the exercise of the mental faculties; exhibiting skill and readiness in avoiding danger or escaping difficulty; ready in invention or execution; -- applied to persons and to acts; as, an adroit mechanic, an adroit reply. "Adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant." Horsley. "He was adroit in intrigue." Macaulay.
Syn. -- Dexterous; skillful; expert; ready; clever; deft; ingenious; cunning; ready-witted.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for adroit; he lists it under clever, skilful.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.