ambidextrous

English

Etymology

ambi- +‎ Latin dexter (“right”) + -ous (as if both hands are like the right hand, which is the stronger hand in most people).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /æm.bi.ˈdɛk.stɹəs/
• Rhymes: -ɛkstɹəs

Adjective

ambidextrous (comparative more ambidextrous, superlative most ambidextrous)

1. Having equal ability in both hands; in particular, able to write equally well with both hands.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Thomas Browne to this entry?)

2. Practising or siding with both parties.
   • (Can we date this quote?) L'Estrange

     All false, shuffling, and ambidextrous dealings.

3. (humorous) Of a person, bisexual.

Antonyms

• ambilevous
• ambisinistrous

Derived terms

• ambidextrousness

Related terms

• ambidexterity

Translations

having equal ability in both hands

• Catalan: ambidextre (ca) m and f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 雙手靈巧的 (cmn)

• Esperanto: ambaŭmana (eo)
• Estonian: mõlemakäelisus (et)
• Finnish: molempikätinen (fi)
• French: ambidextre (fr) m and f
• Greek: αμφιδέξιος (el) (amfidéxios) m
• Ido: ambidextra (io)

• Irish: comhdheas (ga)
• Italian: ambidestro (it)
• Kurdish:

  Sorani: چه‌پ وڕاسته‌ (ku)

• Manx: co-yesh (gv), co-yesh er dagh laue (gv)
• Polish: oburęczny (pl) m
• Portuguese: ambidestro (pt)
• Spanish: ambidextro (es)