senestre

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See also: sénestre

French

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle French senestre, from Old French senestre, from Late Latin sinextrum, from Latin sinistrum. Doublet of sinistre, a borrowing from Latin.

The expected result of the Middle French senestre, pronounced approximately as /səˈnɛːtrə/, should have been senêtre in modern French (which does exist in heraldic jargon). A spelling-pronunciation, with etymologically restored /s/, came to predominate as the word became increasingly archaic, having been driven out of common usage as the word for "left" by gauche in the sixteenth century.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /sə.nɛstʁ/, /se.nɛstʁ/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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senestre (plural senestres)

  1. (dated) (on the) left
  2. (heraldry) sinister; left-hand side of the shield
    Antonym: dextre

See also

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References

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Middle French

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Etymology

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From Old French senestre.

Noun

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senestre m (uncountable)

  1. left (left-hand side)

Descendants

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  • French: senestre, sénestre, senêtre

Old French

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Etymology

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Inherited from Late Latin sinextrum, from Latin sinistrum.

Pronunciation

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  • (classical) IPA(key): /səˈnɛstɾə/
  • (late) IPA(key): /səˈnɛːtɾə/

Adjective

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senestre m (oblique and nominative feminine singular senestre)

  1. left (on the left-hand side)

Declension

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Descendants

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