Antonyms for lefts

Grammar : Noun

Spell : left

Phonetic Transcription : lɛft

right wing

Definition of lefts

Origin : c.1200, from Kentish and northern English form of Old English lyft- "weak, foolish" (cf. lyft-adl "lameness, paralysis," East Frisian luf, Dutch dialectal loof "weak, worthless"). It emerged 13c. as "opposite of right" (the left being usually the weaker hand), a derived sense also found in cognate Middle Dutch and Low German luchter, luft. But German link, Dutch linker "left" are from Old High German slinc and Middle Dutch slink "left," related to Old English slincan "crawl," Swedish linka "limp," slinka "dangle."
Replaced Old English winestra, literally "friendlier," a euphemism used superstitiously to avoid invoking the unlucky forces connected with the left side (see sinister). The Kentish word itself may have been originally a taboo replacement, if instead it represents PIE root *laiwo-, meaning "considered conspicuous" (represented in Greek laios, Latin laevus, and Russian levyi). Greek also uses a euphemism for "left," aristeros "the better one" (cf. also Avestan vairyastara- "to the left," from vairya- "desirable"). But Lithuanian kairys "left" and Lettish kreilis "left hand" derive from a root that yields words for "twisted, crooked."
As an adverb from early 14c. As a noun from c.1200. Political sense arose from members of a legislative body assigned to the left side of a chamber, first attested in English 1837 (by Carlyle, in reference to the French Revolution), probably a loan-translation of French la gauche (1791), said to have originated during the seating of the French National Assembly in 1789 in which the nobility took the seats on the President's right and left the Third Estate to sit on the left. Became general in U.S. and British political speech c.1900.
Used since at least c.1600 in various senses of "irregular, illicit;" earlier proverbial sense was "opposite of what is expressed" (mid-15c.). Phrase out in left field "out of touch with pertinent realities" is attested from 1944, from the baseball fielding position that tends to be far removed from the play. To have two left feet "be clumsy" is attested by 1902. The Left Bank of Paris (left bank of the River Seine, as you face downstream) has been associated with intellectual and artistic culture since at least 1893.

As in left wing : noun person or group favoring change

Example sentences :

Taylor could not get his boots on, and Hom discovered that both of his boots were lefts.
Extract from : « A Boy Trooper With Sheridan » by Stanton P. Allen

In spite of this there was an equal engagement of rights with lefts.
Extract from : « Cytherea » by Joseph Hergesheimer

Then Santon was on him slamming in lefts and rights, and working furiously to get him into a corner.
Extract from : « H.M.S. ---- » by Klaxon

They are lefts and rights, and only cost a halfpenny the pair.
Extract from : « The Evolution of Fashion » by Florence Mary Gardiner

You're authorized to perform the sacred rights and lefts of mattermony, air you not?
Extract from : « Rolling Stones » by O. Henry

The boots were what are called "rights and lefts," and in fair preservation.
Extract from : « The Cathedral Church of Peterborough » by W.D. Sweeting

Tom pursued his advantage, pumping rights and lefts to the body, and he could feel the arrogant cadet weakening.
Extract from : « Stand by for Mars! » by Carey Rockwell

Tom pressed his advantage, showering rights and lefts everywhere he could find an opening.
Extract from : « Stand by for Mars! » by Carey Rockwell

He circled his unit-mate with care, shielding himself from the shower of rights and lefts that rained around him.
Extract from : « Stand by for Mars! » by Carey Rockwell

He exulted in every blow of Gordon; he suffered with him when the smashing rights and lefts of Macdonald got home.
Extract from : « The Yukon Trail » by William MacLeod Raine

Synonyms for lefts

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019