left English · revision 1785

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1200 (Layamon's Brut)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /left/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|left]], [[m|enm|lift]], [[m|enm|luft]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024)^(Wiktionary) [[inh|ang|left|t=weak, worthless]], a Kentish form of [[m|ang|lyft-]], found in [[m|ang|lyftādl|t=paralysis, palsy, literally weak disease]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(SOED 2002)^(Weekley 1921) The Kentish word glosses [[la|inānis|t=empty, weak]].^(MW Word Histories)^(Skeat 1911) Its cognates in the sense “weak, worthless” are East Frisian luf and Dutch dialect loof, and in the sense “left” [[dum|lucht]], [[m|dum|luft]] and [[gml|lucht]].^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) The ultimate origin is unknown;^(SOED 2002)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart derives it from [[ine-pro|*(s)leup-]],^(Barnhart 1988) and Klein thinks it probably not connected with [[grc|λεπρός|tr=leprós|t=scaly]] (see [[leper]]), which Partridge proposes.^(Klein 1966)^(Partridge 1966) The usual Old English word for “left” was [[m|ang|winestra]], literally “friendlier”, a euphemism used to avoid invoking the unlucky forces linked with the left side;^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests ''left'' itself may have begun as a taboo replacement.^(Etymonline) The adjective ''left'' “remaining” is the past participle of [[leave]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the hand that is usually the weaker, and of that side of the body (about 1200, in Layamon's ''Brut'').^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “left, as opposed to right” comes from the left hand being the weaker in most people, a development also found in the related Dutch and Low German words.^(Etymonline)^(MW Word Histories)^(Barnhart 1995) Old English ''left'' meant only “weak”, a sense not found after Old English.^(SOED 2002) Weekley compares the converse development of French ''gauche'' “left; awkward” and German ''linkisch'' “awkward”, from ''link'' “left”.^(Weekley 1921) From the mid-15th century ''left'' was proverbially used for “the opposite of what is said”, as in ''over the left shoulder'', “not at all”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From about 1600 it was used in senses of “irregular, illicit”.^(Etymonline) In a ''left-handed'' (morganatic) marriage the bridegroom gave his left hand to the bride.^(Weekley 1921) The political sense comes from the custom in the French National Assembly of 1789, in which the nobles sat in the place of honour on the President's right and the Third Estate on his left;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline) it is first recorded in English in Carlyle's ''The French Revolution'' (1837), probably translating French ''la gauche'' (1791),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and became general in American and British politics about 1900.^(Etymonline) In American slang ''to get left'', “to be left behind, lose out”, dates from 1882.^(GDoS) In baseball ''left field'' gave the American ''out of left field'', “unexpected, unconventional”.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – ''lift'', ''luft'', of the weaker hand; as a noun, the left side.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1325 – the spelling ''left''; as an adverb.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * mid-15th century – ''over the left (shoulder)'', not at all.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1675 – a road or turn to the left.^(HTOED)

+ * 1693 – the left wing of an army.^(HTOED)

+ * 1794 – political sense, adjective.^(HTOED)

+ * 1806 – a punch with the left hand.^(HTOED)

+ * 1837 – ''the Left'' in politics, in Carlyle.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – ''get left'' (US slang).^(GDoS)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, on or towards the side of the body that is to the west when one faces north, where the [[heart]] mostly lies.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Located on the left of a person facing downstream: ''the left bank''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of or belonging to the political [[left-wing|alt=left]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The left side, direction or position; a left turn: ''take a left''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The left hand, or a blow with the left fist.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''(often '''the Left''')'' Those who favour [[liberal]] or [[radical]] reform, especially in politics; their opinions.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # On or towards the left.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # Past tense and past participle of [[leave]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leftmost]]

+ * [[left-hand]]

+ * [[left-handed]]

+ * [[leftie]]

+ * [[leftward]]

+ * [[antileft]]

+ * [[leftish]]

+ * [[ultraleft]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[leave]]

+ * [[sinister]]

+ * [[gauche]]

+ * [[leftist]]

+ * [[right]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Folklore treats the left as unlucky, ominous and less honourable than the right, a tradition going back to the classical world and to the Last Judgement, where the damned are sent to the left.^(Simpson & Roud 2000)^(Brewer 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}