1.left, on the left, Lat. sinister, ἐπ᾽ ἀριστερά towards, i. e. on, the left, Il.; ἐπ᾽ ἀριστερὰ χειρός on the left hand, Od.; ἐξ ἀριστερῆς χειρός on the left hand, Hdt.; or simply, ἐξ ἀριστερᾶς Soph.; ἐς ἀριστερήν, ἐν ἀριστερῆι Hdt.
2.metaph. boding ill, ominous, because to a Greek augur, looking northward, the unlucky signs came from the left, Od.
Deriv. uncertain.