left

== English == === Etymology 1 === From Middle English left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from Old English left, lyft (“weak, clumsy, foolish”), attested in Old English lyftādl (“palsy, paralysis”), from Proto-Germanic *luft-, from *lubjaną (“to castrate, lop off”) (compare dialectal English lib, West Frisian lobje, Dutch lubben), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)lewp-, *(s)lup- (“hanging limply”). Compare Scots left (“left”), North Frisian lefts, leeft, leefts (“left”), West Frisian lofts (“left”), obsolete Dutch lucht, leftsch, lefts, lefs (“left”), dialectal Dutch loof (“weak, worthless”), archaic Low German lucht (“left”). ==== Alternative forms ==== (political left): Left ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation, General American, Ireland) IPA(key): /ˈlɛft/ (Dublin) IPA(key): /ˈlɛf/, /ˈlɛfʔ/ Rhymes: -ɛft ==== Adjective ==== left (comparative further left or farther left or more left or lefter, superlative furthest left or farthest left or most left or leftmost or leftest) Designating the side of the body toward the west when one is facing north; the side of the body on which the heart is located in most humans; the opposite of right. This arrow points to the reader's left: ← Synonyms: sinister, sinistral Antonyms: right, dexter, dextral Near-synonym: port Anticlockwise, particularly when describing a change in direction or orientation. (geography) Designating the bank of a river (etc.) on one's left when facing downstream (i.e. facing forward while floating with the current); that is, the north bank of a river that flows eastward. If this arrow: ⥲ shows the direction of the current, the tilde is on the left side of the river. (politics) Left-wing; pertaining to the political left. Antonym: right (syntax) Relating to the beginning or earlier part of a phrase. ===== Derived terms ===== left direction: left-wing (politics): ===== Translations ===== ==== Adverb ==== left (not comparable) On the left side. Antonym: right Towards the left side. Antonym: right Towards the political left. Antonym: right ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== left (plural lefts) The left side or direction. Synonyms: 9 o'clock, port (politics) The left-wing political parties as a group; citizens holding left-wing views as a group. The left hand or fist. (boxing) A punch delivered with the left fist. (surfing) A wave breaking from left to right (viewed from the shore). Antonym: right ===== Synonyms ===== (political left): left wing, leftists ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English left, variant of laft (“remaining, left”), from Old English lǣfed, ġelǣfed, past participle of lǣfan (“to leave”). More at leave. ==== Verb ==== left simple past and past participle of leave (“depart, separate from; (cause or allow to) remain”). ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Etymology 3 === From Middle English levit, ilevet, y-levyd, from Old English ġelȳfd, ġelȳfed, past participle of Old English ġelȳfan, lȳfan (“to allow, permit”), equivalent to leave (“to give leave to, allow, grant, permit”) +‎ -ed. ==== Verb ==== left simple past and past participle of leave (“permit”). === References === The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, Walter W. Skeat. === Anagrams === flet, felt, Felt, FLET, FELT, TEFL == Yola == === Etymology === From Middle English left, from Old English lyft. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /lɛft/ === Adjective === left left ==== Derived terms ==== left-vooted === References === Kathleen A. Browne (1927), “THE ANCIENT DIALECT OF THE BARONIES OF FORTH AND BARGY, COUNTY WEXFORD.”, in Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of lreland (Sixth Series)‎[2], volume 17, number 2, Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, page 129