left-handed

[ left-han-did ]

/ ˈlɛftˈhæn dɪd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR left-handed ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having the left hand more dominant or effective than the right; preferably using the left hand: a left-handed pitcher.

adapted to or performed by the left hand: a left-handed tool; a left-handed tennis serve.

situated on the side of the left hand.

Machinery.

rotating counterclockwise.
noting a helical or spiral member, as a gear tooth or screw thread, that twists counterclockwise as it recedes from an observer.

Building Trades. left-hand(def 3).

ambiguous or doubtful and often unfavorable or derogatory by implication: a left-handed compliment.

clumsy or awkward.

of, relating 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.

adverb

with the left hand: He writes left-handed.

toward the left hand; in a counterclockwise direction: The strands of the rope are laid left-handed.

Nearby words

Origin of left-handed

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at left¹, handed

Related formsleft-hand·ed·ly, adverbleft-hand·ed·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for left-handed

Besides, he was left-handed, and top-notch left-handed golfers are almost as rare as left-handed catchers.
Portrait of the Consummate Con Man|John Lardner|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Apparently, a fair number of left-handed people die each year from using right-handed products incorrectly.
15 Things More Likely to Happen than Winning Mega Millions|Andrew Carter|March 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I sawed under limbs and over limbs, right-handed and left-handed, standing on my feet and on my head.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
In Germany “left-handed” or “morganatic” marriages were allowed by the Salic law between nobles and women of lower rank.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7|Various

Lee's left-handed gods at work, to dash our bowl of joy with wormwood.
Clarissa, Volume 4 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson
The lanky, left-handed pitcher wound up deliberately and shot one over the plate.
Bert Wilson's Fadeaway Ball|J. W. Duffield
And a devil told me (with respect) that they were a company of ungracious, left-handed wretches, that could do nothing aright.
The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas|Dom Francisco de Quevedo

British Dictionary definitions for left-handed

left-handed

adjective

using the left hand with greater ease than the right

performed with the left hand

designed or adapted for use by the left hand

worn on the left hand

awkward or clumsy

ironically ambiguousa left-handed compliment

turning from right to left; anticlockwise

law another term for morganatic

adverb

with the left hand

Derived Formsleft-handedly, adverbleft-handedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for left-handed

left-handed

adj.

late 14c., of persons; 1650s of tools, etc., from left (adj.) + handed. 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 left fist"), as is that of "illicit" (e.g. left-handed marriage). Related: Left-handedly; left-handedness.

Medicine definitions for left-handed

left-handed

adj.

Using the left hand more skillfully or easily than the right.

left-handed

adjective

adverb

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Nearby words

Origin of left-handed

Examples from the Web for left-handed

left-handed

adjective

adverb

left-handed

left-handed

adj.