ἀριστερός

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Ancient Greek

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Etymology

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Apparently from ἄριστος (áristos, best) +‎ -τερος (-teros, contrastive suffix), though the left direction has negative connotations in many cultures and languages, including Greece.[1] According to Chantraine, the suffix -τερος serves to differentiate and create a euphemistic contrast with ἄριστος; an unusual formation. The latter is taken to indicate on the right side in this case, the left side being its literal and metaphorical opposite.[2]

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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ἀριστερός (aristerósm (feminine ἀριστερά, neuter ἀριστερόν); first/second declension

  1. (euphemistic) left (opposite of right)
    Synonyms: λαιός (laiós), σκαιός (skaiós)
    Antonym: δεξιός (dexiós)
  2. ominous, ill boding
  3. clumsy, awkward (compare French gauche)

Inflection

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Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Descendants

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  • Greek: αριστερός (aristerós)

References

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  1. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “ἀριστερός”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 131
  2. ^ Chantraine, Pierre, "Les noms de la gauche en grec", Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres 99.3 (1955) 374-377.

Further reading

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