I.the right hand (freq. a sign of greeting, of fidelity; a symbol of strength, courage, etc.).
A. Prop.: “cedo sis dexteram,” Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 102; Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 84: “quod ego te per hanc dextram oro,” id. And. 1, 5, 54; cf.: “per dexteram te istam oro, quam, etc.,” Cic. Deiot. 3; cf. also Sall. J. 10, 3; Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 94 al.; and: “dexterae, quae fidei testes esse solebant,” Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 5: “fidem more Persarum dextra dare,” Nep. Dat. 10, 1: “vos libertatem atque patriam in dextris vostris portare,” Sall. C. 58, 8; cf. Verg. A. 2, 291; Hor. Epod. 7, 10; Ov. M. 13, 176; Sil. 1, 77 et saep.: miserat civitas Lingonum vetere instituto dona legionibus dextras, hospitii insigne, a pair of hands clasped in each other, made of gold, silver, etc., Tac. H. 1, 54; cf. id. ib. 2, 8 (so in Gr. δεξιὰν πέμπειν and φέρειν).— Prov.: dextra tenet calamum; “strictum tenet altera ferrum,” Ov. H. 11, 3.—
2. Transf.
a. The right side: “picus et cornix est ab laeva, corvus porro ab dextera,” Plaut. As. 2, 1, 12; cf. Cic. Div. 1, 39, 85: “ab dextera,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 89; id. Mil. 3, 1, 13; Ter. And. 4, 3, 19; Sall. C. 59, 2; Ov. M. 2, 5 al.: “ilico equites jubet dextera inducere,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 88; so, “dexterā,” id. ib. 177; Caes. B. C. 2, 15, 3; Sall. J. 101, 9; Liv. 21, 43 et saep.: “specta ad dexteram,” Plaut. Poen. 3, 4, 1; so, “ad dexteram,” id. Rud. 1, 2, 67; Ter. And. 4, 4, 12; Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22 fin.; Cic. Univ. 13; Caes. B. C. 1, 69, 3 et saep.—
B. Trop., pledge of friendship: “renovare dextras,” Tac. A. 2, 58; cf.: “Graecia tendit dexteram Italiae suumque ei praesidium pollicetur,” Cic. Phil. 10, 4, 9: “nec veriti dominorum fallere dextras,” Verg. A. 6, 613; cf. id. ib. 3, 610; Nep. Dat. 10, 1; Just. 11, 15, 13: “ne fas, fidem, dextras, deos testes fallat,” Liv. 29, 24.
