Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Left

Left

(lĕft)
,
imp.
&
p.
p.
of
Leave
.

Left

,
Adj.
[OE.
left
,
lift
,
luft
; akin to Fries.
leeft
, OD.
lucht
,
luft
; cf. AS.
left
(equiv. to L.
inanis
),
lyftādl
palsy; or cf. AS.
lēf
weak.]
1.
Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; – opposed to
right
, when used in reference to a part of the body;
as, the
left
hand, or arm; the
left
ear
. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.
Left bank of a river
,
that which is on the left hand of a person whose face is turned downstream.
Left bower
.
See under 2d
Bower
.
Left center
,
the members whose sympathies are, in the main, with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center and the extreme Left.
Over the left shoulder
, or
Over the left
,
an old but still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief;
as, he said it, and it is true, –
over the left
.

Left

,
Noun.
1.
That part of surrounding space toward which the left side of one’s body is turned;
as, the house is on the
left
when you face North
.
Put that rose a little more to the
left
.
Ld. Lytton.
2.
Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See
Center
, and
Right
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Left

LEFT

, pret. and pp. of leave.

LEFT

,
Adj.
[L. lavus; Gr. probably from the root of leave, Gr. and properly weak, deficient. Applied to the hand or arm, it denotes the weak arm, as opposed to the right, the strong or dextrous. Hence the ancient idea of sinister, unfortunate, attached to the left arm or side.]
1.
Denoting the part opposed to the right of the body; as the left hand, arm or side. Hence, the noun being omitted, we say, on the left, that is, on the left side or wing, as of an army.
2.
The left bank of a river, is that which is on the left hand of a person whose face is towards the mouth of the river.

Definition 2024


lëft

lëft

See also: left

Kashubian

Noun

lëft

  1. air