ἀριστερός [ᾰ], ά, όν,
left, on the left, ἐπ᾽ ἀριστερά towards, i.e. on,
the left, [
Refs 8th c.BC+]
2) ἀριστερά (with or without χείρ), ἡ,
left hand, ἐξ ἀριστερῆς χειρός on
the left hand, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς ἀριστερὴν χεῖρα ἤιε, ἐν ἀριστερῇ ἔχειν, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
3)
metaphorically,
boding ill, ominous, because to a Greek, looking northward, unlucky signs came from the left, ἀ. ἤλυθεν ὄρνις[
Refs 8th c.BC+]
4)
awkward, erring, φρενόθεν ἐπ᾽ ἀριστερὰ ἔβας turnedst to
the leftward of thy mind, [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπ᾽ ἀριστερὰ εἴληφας τὸ πρᾶγμα in a
sinister sense, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]; τῷ ἀριστερῷ δέχεσθαι [λόγους] [
Refs 1st c.AD+]. (Prop. 'better', compare ἄριστο; euphemism (compare εὐώνυμος) to avoid ill-luck.)