left

³left

Definition of LEFT

past and past participle of leave

¹left

adjective \ˈleft\

Definition of LEFT

1

a : of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located

b : done with the left hand <a left hook to the jaw>

c : located nearer to the left hand than to the right

d (1) : located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified <stage left> (2) : located on the left when facing downstream <the left bank of a river>

2

often capitalized : of, adhering to, or constituted by the left especially in politics

— left adverb

Examples of LEFT

1. He felt a pain in his left side.
2. He hit him with a left hook to the jaw.
3. the left side of the street

Origin of LEFT

Middle English, from Old English, weak; akin to Middle Low German lucht left; from the left hand's being the weaker in most individuals

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with LEFT

cleft, deft, eft, heft, klepht, theft, weft

²left

noun

Definition of LEFT

1

a : the left hand

b : the location or direction of the left side

c : the part on the left side

d : a turn to the left <take a left at the intersection>

2

a : left field

b : a blow struck with the left fist

3

often capitalized

a : the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer

b : the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members

4

often capitalized

a : those professing views usually characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order especially in politics and usually advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man

b : a radical as distinguished from a conservative position

— left·most \ˈleft-ˌmōst\ adjective

Examples of LEFT

1. We read from left to right.
2. You'll take two lefts and then a right.
3. He hit him with two quick lefts to the stomach followed by a right to the jaw.

First Known Use of LEFT

13th century

Related to LEFT

Synonyms

liberalism, leftism, left wing

Antonyms

conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right

Related Words

neoliberalism; radicalism, socialism

Near Antonyms

neoconservatism

left

adjective \ˈleft\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of LEFT

: of, relating to, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located; also : located nearer to this side than to the right

left

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In politics, the portion of the political spectrum associated in general with egalitarianism and popular or state control of the major institutions of political and economic life. The term dates from the 1790s, when in the French revolutionary parliament the socialist representatives sat to the presiding officer's left. Leftists tend to be hostile to the interests of traditional elites, including the wealthy and members of the aristocracy, and to favour the interests of the working class (see proletariat). They tend to regard social welfare as the most important goal of government. Socialism is the standard leftist ideology in most countries of the world; communism is a more radical leftist ideology.