dexter

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See also: Dexter

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Latin dexter, from Proto-Indo-European *deks(i)-tero-, from Proto-Indo-European *deks- (“right”) (Pokorny, Watkins, 1969; et al.) Compare Homeric Greek δεξιτερός (dexiteros) "right hand", δεξιός (dexios), "right", Old Church Slavonic деснъ (desnŭ, “right”).

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

dexter (not comparable)

  1. Right; on the right-hand side.
    • 1887, George William Foote; J. M. Wheeler, Crimes of Christianity, London: Progressive Publishing:
      Displaying his dexter palm, he exclaimed that there was a hand that never took a bribe; whereupon a smart auditor cried "How about the one behind your back?"
    • 1911, Saki, ‘The Match-Maker’, The Chronicles of Clovis:
      Clovis wiped the trace of Turkish coffee and the beginnings of a smile from his lips, and slowly lowered his dexter eyelid.

Noun[edit]

dexter (plural dexters)

  1. (heraldry) The right side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the left side to the viewer.
  2. right hand

See also[edit]

Latin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Indo-European *deḱs-. Cognates include Ancient Greek δεξιός (dexios) and Sanskrit दक्षिण (dákṣiṇa).

Adjective[edit]

dexter, dextra or dextera, dextrum or dexterum; first/second declension

  1. right
  2. skillful
  3. fortunate, favorable
  4. proper, fitting
  5. masculine vocative singular of dexter

Inflection[edit]

First/second declension, masculine nominative singular in -er.

Number Singular Plural
Case \ Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
nominative dexter dextra dextrum dextrī dextrae dextra
genitive dextrī dextrae dextrī dextrōrum dextrārum dextrōrum
dative dextrō dextrae dextrō dextrīs dextrīs dextrīs
accusative dextrum dextram dextrum dextrōs dextrās dextra
ablative dextrō dextrā dextrō dextrīs dextrīs dextrīs
vocative dexter dextra dextrum dextrī dextrae dextra

or First/second declension, masculine nominative singular in -er.

Number Singular Plural
Case \ Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
nominative dexter dextera dexterum dexterī dexterae dextera
genitive dexterī dexterae dexterī dexterōrum dexterārum dexterōrum
dative dexterō dexterae dexterō dexterīs dexterīs dexterīs
accusative dexterum dexteram dexterum dexterōs dexterās dextera
ablative dexterō dexterā dexterō dexterīs dexterīs dexterīs
vocative dexter dextera dexterum dexterī dexterae dextera

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

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