dexter Latin · revision 5348

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *deḱs-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dexter''' (feminine dextra or dextera, neuter dextrum or dexterum, comparative dexterior, superlative dextimus); first/second-declension adjective (nominative masculine singular in -er; two different stems)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*dekstero-]], [[inh|ine-pro|*deḱs-tero-|t=right, right-hand side]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[osc|destrst|t=is on the right]], [[xum|testru|t=right]], [[grc|δεξιτερός|tr=dexiterós|t=right]], [[sa|दक्षिण|tr=dákṣiṇa|t=right, southern]] and [[got|𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍃𐍅𐌰|tr=taihswa|t=right]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Syncopated forms such as [[m|la|dextrum]] point to a form without *i, as in Sabellic.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus, who has the dative plural ''dextrābus''.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) Köbler places his career before 200 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant on the right-hand side, and the feminine ''dextra'' (''dextera'') was the right hand, often used of a pledge or greeting.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) Because the right side was lucky in Roman augury, it meant favourable or propitious, as of gods and birds.^(OLD 2012) It also meant dexterous or skilful, as in Ovid.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a measure of length, and ''dextrī'' was the area round a church that had the right of sanctuary.^(Niermeyer 1976) In British medieval Latin it was also the heraldic term [[en|dexter]].^(DMLBS) [[dexteritās]] gave [[en|dexterity]], and ''dexter'' itself gave [[en|dexterous]].^(Etymonline) It survives in [[it|destro]] and [[es|diestro]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus has ''dextrābus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of the right hand.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil asks Hercules to come with favourable foot.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1520s – English ''dexterity'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Right, on the right-hand side, ''dextra'', the [[m|en|right hand]].^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Favourable, [[m|en|propitious]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Skilful, [[m|en|dexterous]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' (as a noun) A measure of length, ''dextrī'', the sanctuary round a church.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dextera]]

+ * [[dexteritās]]

+ * [[dextrātus]]

+ * [[dextrorsum]]

+ * [[praedexter]]

+ * [[dexterē]]

+ * [[dextra]]

+ * [[dextrāle]]

+ * [[dextrāliolum]]

+ * [[dextrē]]

+ * [[dextrōrsus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|dexterity]]

+ * [[en|dexter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}