Left , a. Situated
so that the
left side of the body is toward it;
as, the left side of a deliberative meeting is that to the left of the presiding officer; the left wing of an army is that to the left of the center to
one facing an enemy.
Left , n.
1. That part of surrounding space toward which the left side
of one's body is turned; as, the house
is on the
left when you face North.
Put that rose
a little more to the
left.
Ld. Lytton.
2. Those members of a legislative assembly
(as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand
side of the
presiding officer. See Center, and Right.
Left , a. [OE. left, lift,
luft; akin to Fries.
leeft, OD. lucht, luft; cf. AS. left (equiv. to L. inanis),
lyftādl palsy; or
cf. AS. lēf weak.]
Of or pertaining to that side
of the body
in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is
usually weaker than on the other side; -- opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the left hand, or arm; the
left ear. Also said of
the corresponding side of the lower animals.
Left bank of
a river, that which is
on the left hand of a person whose face is
turned downstream. -- Left bower. See under 2d Bower. -- Left center, the members whose sympathies are, in the main, with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center and the extreme Left. -- Over the left
shoulder, or Over the left, an old but still
current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation,
or disbelief; as, he said it, and it is true, -- over the left.
Left (l&ebreve;ft), imp. & p. p. of Leave.
Hear it pronounced