Han·del (h?n?dl), George Frideric 1685-1759. German-born British composer whose works include the orchestral Water Music (1717) and the oratorio Messiah (1742).Han·del?i·an (h?n-d??l?-?n, -d?l?y?n, -d?l??-?n, -d?l?y?n) adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.