Saturday, September 15, 2012

Why do left and right mean liberal and conservative?

Via Daughter Dixie

Louis XVI, left, right, French Legislative Assembly, politics

During the election season the words left and right denote political affiliation more than spatial direction. But where do these associations come from?

The left hand has long been associated with deviance. The word “sinister” originally meant “to the left” in Latin. The word “left” comes from the Old English word lyft, which literally meant “weak, foolish.”

Vindicated!::)

2 comments:

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    1. I had glanced at it today when I was on Dictionary, but didn't read it. Later on Dixie comes in with it.:)

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