left-handed

left-handed
/left"han"did/, adj.
1. having the left hand more dominant or effective than the right; preferably using the left hand: a left-handed pitcher.
2. adapted to or performed by the left hand: a left-handed tool; a left-handed tennis serve.
3. situated on the side of the left hand.
4. Mach.
a. rotating counterclockwise.
b. noting a helical or spiral member, as a gear tooth or screw thread, that twists counterclockwise as it recedes from an observer.
5. Building Trades. left-hand (def. 3).
6. ambiguous or doubtful and often unfavorable or derogatory by implication: a left-handed compliment.
7. clumsy or awkward.
8. of, pertaining to, or issuing from a morganatic marriage: so called from the custom, in morganatic marriage ceremonies, of having the bridegroom give his left hand to the bride.
adv.
9. with the left hand: He writes left-handed.
10. toward the left hand; in a counterclockwise direction: The strands of the rope are laid left-handed.
[1350-1400; ME; see LEFT1, HANDED]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • left-handed — left hand|ed [ left hændəd ] adjective 1. ) someone who is left handed is born with a natural tendency to use their left hand to do things, especially things such as writing: My mom s left handed. a left handed pitcher a ) only before noun used… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Left-handed — Left hand ed, a. 1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right. [1913 Webster] 2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • left-handed — adj 1.) a left handed person uses their left hand for writing, throwing etc ≠ ↑right handed 2.) [only before noun] left handed tools have been made for left handed people to use ▪ left handed scissors 3.) left handed compliment AmE a statement… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • left-handed — left′ hand′ed adj. 1) having the left hand more dominant or effective than the right; preferably using the left hand: a left handed pitcher[/ex] 2) adapted to or performed by the left hand: a left handed tool; a left handed tennis serve[/ex] 3)… …   From formal English to slang

  • left-handed — [left′han′did] adj. 1. using the left hand more skillfully than, and in preference to, the right 2. done with the left hand 3. clumsy; awkward 4. designating an insincere or ambiguous compliment; BACKHANDED (sense 2) 5. MORGANATIC: from the… …   English World dictionary

  • left-handed — late 14c., of persons; 1650s of tools, etc., from LEFT (Cf. left) (adj.). In 15c. it also could mean maimed. Sense of underhanded is from early 17c., as in left handed compliment (1787, also attested 1855 in pugilism slang for a punch with the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • left-handed — ► ADJECTIVE 1) using or done with the left hand. 2) turning to the left; towards the left. 3) (of a screw) advanced by turning anticlockwise. 4) ambiguous …   English terms dictionary

  • left-handed — UK [ˌleft ˈhændɪd] / US [left ˈhændəd] adjective 1) a) someone who is left handed is born with a natural tendency to use their left hand to do things, especially things such as writing My mum s left handed. a left handed batsman b) [only before… …   English dictionary

  • left-handed — adjective 1 someone who is left handed uses their left hand for most things, especially writing 2 done with the left hand: a left handed shot 3 made to be used by left handed people: left handed scissors 4 left handed compliment AmE a statement… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • left-handed — ADJ Someone who is left handed uses their left hand rather than their right hand for activities such as writing and sports and for picking things up. I noticed she was left handed... There is a place in London that supplies practically everything …   English dictionary

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