left
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the side of your body that is toward the west when you face north.
n.the side or direction that is the opposite of right; the side on which the heart is typically located.
Simple“In the UK, people drive on the left side of the road.”
In context“The museum entrance is located on the left, just past the main fountain in the courtyard.”
Synonymsleft hand sideAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.people or political parties that support social equality and change.
n.the collective group of political parties and individuals who hold liberal, socialist, or progressive views.
Simple“The political left gained more support during the recent election.”
In context“The candidate's policies were designed to appeal to the traditional left while maintaining a moderate stance on trade.”
Synonymsleft wingprogressivesAntonymsthe right - 03 A1 Beginner
adj.on or towards the side of your body that is not the right.
adj.pertaining to or located on the side of the body which is toward the west when facing north.
Simple“She has a small scar on her left hand from a childhood accident.”
In context“The left wing of the building was added in the nineteenth century to accommodate the growing library collection.”
SynonymssinistralAntonyms - 04 A1 Beginner
adv.towards the left side.
adv.in the direction of the left side.
Simple“Turn left at the next traffic light to find the car park.”
In context“The pilot banked left to avoid the storm clouds gathering over the valley.”
SynonymsleftwardAntonyms
Usage left home · left hand · left side
From Middle English left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from Old English left, lyft (“weak, clumsy, foolish”), attested in Old English lyftādl (“palsy, paralysis”), from Proto-Germanic luft-, from lubjaną (“to castrate, lop off”) (compare dialectal English lib, West Frisian lobje, Dutch lubben), from Proto-Indo-European (s)lewp-, (s)lup- (“hanging limply”). Compare Scots left (“left”), North Frisian lefts, leeft, leefts (“left”), West Frisian lofts (“left”), obsolete Dutch lucht, leftsch, lefts, lefs (“left”), dialectal Dutch loof (“weak, worthless”), archaic Low German lucht (“left”).
From Middle English left, variant of laft (“remaining, left”), from Old English lǣfd, ġelǣfd, past participle of lǣfan (“to leave”). More at leave.
From Middle English levit, ilevet, y-levyd, from Old English ġelȳfd, ġelȳfed, past participle of Old English ġelȳfan, lȳfan (“to allow, permit”), equivalent to leave (“to give leave to, allow, grant, permit”) + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.