left-handed

[ left-han-did ]

adjective

1. having the left hand more dominant or effective than the right; preferably using the left hand:

   a left-handed pitcher.

2. adapted to or performed by the left hand:

   a left-handed tool; a left-handed tennis serve.

3. situated on the side of the left hand.
4. Machinery.
   1. rotating counterclockwise.
   2. noting a helical or spiral member, as a gear tooth or screw thread, that twists counterclockwise as it recedes from an observer.
5. Building Trades. left-hand ( def 3 ).
6. ambiguous or doubtful and often unfavorable or derogatory by implication:

   a left-handed compliment.

7. clumsy or awkward.
8. of, relating to, or issuing from a morganatic marriage: so called from the custom, in morganatic marriage ceremonies, of having the bridegroom give his left hand to the bride.

adverb

1. with the left leave left hand:

   He writes left-handed.

2. toward the left leave left hand; in a counterclockwise direction:

   The strands of the rope are laid left-handed.

left-handed

adjective

1. using the left hand with greater ease than the right
2. performed with the left hand
3. designed or adapted for use by the left hand
4. worn on the left hand
5. awkward or clumsy
6. ironically ambiguous

   a left-handed compliment

7. turning from right to left; anticlockwise
8. law another term for morganatic

adverb

1. with the left hand

Derived Forms

• ˌleft-ˈhandedness, noun
• ˌleft-ˈhandedly, adverb

Other Words From

• left-handed·ly adverb
• left-handed·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of left-handed¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; left ¹, handed

Example Sentences

Besides, he was left-handed, and top-notch left-handed golfers are almost as rare as left-handed catchers.

From The Daily Beast

Next day, he bet the winner double their first bet that he could beat him playing left-handed.

From The Daily Beast

Apparently, a fair number of left-handed people die each year from using right-handed products incorrectly.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, especially as the doctors agree that Mr. Adams was killed by a left-handed blow.

From Project Gutenberg

I sawed under limbs and over limbs, right-handed and left-handed, standing on my feet and on my head.

From Project Gutenberg

The king he give me a left-handed look out of the corner of his eye, and so I knowed enough to talk on the right side.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course there might be left-handed piano players, but certainly all the fiddlers and all the conductors are right-handed.

From Project Gutenberg

This thread is a left-handed thread and must be cut with the left dies.

From Project Gutenberg