dextra Latin · revision 18153

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *deḱs-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdɛk.stra]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛk.stra]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dextra''' ''f'' (genitive dextrae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also written ''dextera'', the fuller form.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine of [[m|la|dexter|t=right]], with ⟨manus⟩ “hand” understood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) [[m|la|dexter]] goes back to [[itc-pro|*dekstero-]] and [[ine-pro|*deḱs-tero-|t=right, right-hand side]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Cognate (through that word) with [[osc|destrst|t=is right]], [[grc|δεξιτερός|tr=dexiterós|t=right]], [[sa|दक्षिण|tr=dákṣiṇa|t=right]], [[lt|dẽšinas|t=right]], [[got|𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍃𐍅𐌰|tr=taihswa|t=right]] and [[sga|dess|t=right, south]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''per dexteram tuam tē … ōrō'', “I beg you by your right hand”.^(OLD 2012) Terence has ''cedo dextram'', “give me your right hand”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Dextra'' is the right hand, the hand that holds weapons, that is grasped in greeting or in a promise, and that does most work.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) By metonymy it is a soldier (Silius Italicus), and a metal hand or pair of clasped hands sent as a token of friendship (Nepos, Tacitus).^(OLD 2012) It is a pledge or contract (Cicero: ''dexterae quae fideī testēs esse solēbant'', “right hands, which used to be witnesses of good faith”), and with prepositions the right-hand side: ''ā dexterā'', ''ad dexteram'', “on the right”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ Its ablative ''dextrā'' is an adverb, “on the right”, and in post-Augustan Latin a preposition with the accusative, “on the right of” (Livy: ''dextrā viam strātam'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''per dexteram tuam''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''cedo dextram''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''dexterae quae fideī testēs esse solēbant''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses ''dextrā'' with the accusative.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The right [[m|en|hand]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A soldier.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A model of a hand sent as a [[m|en|token]] of friendship.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A [[m|en|pledge]], promise, contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''ā dexterā, ad dexteram'': on the right-hand side.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''dextrā'': on the right;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(with accusative)'' on the right of.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dexter]]

+ * [[sinistra]]

+ * [[laeva]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}