|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
left
left1 / left/ • adj. 1. on, toward, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing that is to the west when the person or thing is facing north: her left eye the left side of the road. ∎ denoting the side of something that is in an analogous position: the left edge of the text. ∎ on this side from the point of view of a spectator. 2. of or relating to a person or group favoring liberal, socialist, or radical views: Left politics. [ORIGIN: see left wing.] • adv. on or to the left side: turn left here keep left. • n. 1. (the left) the left-hand part, side, or direction: a turn to the left| (one's left) the general sat to his left. ∎ (in soccer or a similar sport) the left-hand half of the field when facing the opponents' goal: a free kick from the left. ∎ (left) Baseball short for left field: a sacrifice fly to left. ∎ the left wing of an army: a token attack on the Russian left. 2. (often the Left) [treated as sing. or pl.] a group or party favoring liberal, socialist, or radical views: the Left is preparing to fight presidential elections. ∎ the section of a party or group holding such views more strongly: he is on the left of the party. 3. a thing on the left-hand side or done with the left hand, in particular: ∎ a left turn: take a left here. ∎ a road, entrance, etc., on the left: my road's the first left. ∎ a person's left fist, esp. a boxer's: a dazzler with the left. ∎ a blow given with this: a left to the body. PHRASES: have two left feet be clumsy or awkward. left, right, and center (also left and right or right and left) on all sides: deals were being done left, right, and center.DERIVATIVES: left·ish adj. left2 • past and past participle of leave1 . |
|
|
Cite this article
"left." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "left." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-left.html "left." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-left.html |
|
left
left1 on, towards, or relating to the side of a human body or of a thing which is to the west when the person or thing is facing north. The original meaning (in Old English) was ‘weak’, the left-hand side being regarded as the weaker side of the body.
Left also means of or relating to a person or group favouring radical, reforming, or socialist views. The usage is first recorded in English in Carlyle's account (in The French Revolution, 1837), and originated in the French National Assembly of 1789, in which the nobles were seated on the President's right and the commons on his left; this ceremonial grouping soon came to reflect political views. Left Bank a district of the city of Paris, situated on the left bank of the River Seine, to the south of the river, an area noted for its intellectual and artistic life. left field in baseball, the part of the outfield to the left of the batter when facing the pitcher; in extended usage, it is a surprising or unconventional position or style (as in out of left field), or a position of ignorance, error, or confusion. left-handed marriage a morganatic marriage (it was customary, in such marriages in Germany, for the bridegroom to give the bride his left hand instead of his right). See also the right hand doesn't know what the left hand's doing. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-left.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-left.html |
|
Left
242. LeftSee also 355. RIGHT .
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Left." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Left." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505200253.html "Left." -Ologies and -Isms. 1986. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505200253.html |
|
Left
Left (in politics) Ideas, movements, and parties of a radical or progressive character, usually associated with SOCIALISM. Following the example of the representatives of the Third Estate at the time of the French Revolution (1789), members of legislative assemblies holding liberal, democratic, or egalitarian views have tended to sit on the left of their chambers. What counts as “Left” varies with time and place: classical Liberal views on economics, for instance, would count as “Right” nowadays, but were “Left” when first espoused in the late 18th century.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Left." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Left." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Left.html "Left." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Left.html |
|
left
left adj. of or relating to a person or group favoring liberal, socialist, or radical views: Left politics. see left wing.
n. 1. the left wing of an army: a token attack on the Russian left. 2. often the Left a group or party favoring liberal, socialist, or radical views: the Left is preparing to fight presidential elections. 3. the section of a party or group holding such views more strongly: he is on the left of the party. |
|
|
Cite this article
"left." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "left." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-left.html "left." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-left.html |
|
left
left side opposite to the right. XIII. ME. luft, lift, left :- OE. *lyft (as in lyftādl ‘left—disease’, paralysis), Kentish left ‘inanis’; the primary sense of ‘weak, worthless’ is found in EFris, luf, Du. dial. loof, and the derived sense in MDu., LG. luchter, lucht, luft, NFris. leeft, leefter; the ult. orig. is unkn.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "left." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "left." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-left.html T. F. HOAD. "left." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-left.html |
|
left
left in politics, the more radically progressive wing in any legislative body or party. The designation apparently originated in the French National Assembly of 1789, where the radicals were seated to the left of the presiding officer. |
|
|
Cite this article
"left." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "left." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-left.html "left." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-left.html |
|
left
left2 be left holding the baby be left with the (usually unwelcome) responsibility for something.
be left at the post be beaten from the start of a race or competition. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-left1.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "left." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-left1.html |
|
left
left •Taft
•abaft, aft, craft, daft, draft, draught, engraft, graft, haft, kraft, raft, shaft, understaffed, unstaffed, waft
•backdraft • handcraft • aircraft
•stagecraft • spacecraft • statecraft
•needlecraft • priestcraft • witchcraft
•kingcraft • handicraft • woodcraft
•Wollstonecraft • bushcraft
•watercraft • hovercraft • crankshaft
•camshaft • layshaft • driveshaft
•turboshaft • countershaft
•bereft, cleft, deft, eft, heft, klepht, left, reft, theft, weft
•adrift, drift, gift, grift, lift, rift, shift, shrift, sift, squiffed, swift, thrift, uplift
•airlift, chairlift, stairlift
•facelift • skilift • shoplift • Festschrift
•spendthrift • spindrift • snowdrift
•makeshift • downshift • upshift
•aloft, croft, loft, oft, soft, toft
•hayloft • Ashcroft • Cockcroft
•undercroft • Lowestoft
•tuft, unstuffed
•Delft
|
|
|
Cite this article
"left." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "left." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-left.html "left." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-left.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
