dextrous etymology

Etymology:

• French: dextre, from Latin: dexter, meaning "right"
• Proto-Indo-European: *deks-t-, meaning "right"

Meaning:

• Having or showing skill or adroitness in using the hands or body

Origin:

The word "dextrous" originates from the Latin word "dexter," which means "right." In ancient Rome, the right hand was considered the more skillful and dominant hand, hence the association of "dexter" with skilled use of the hands.

The Proto-Indo-European root *deks-t-, from which "dexter" is derived, also means "right." This root is found in various languages across the Indo-European family, such as Sanskrit "dakshina" (right), Greek "dexios" (right), and Old English "riht" (right).

Over time, the word "dextrous" came to be used more broadly to refer to skill and adroitness in the use of both hands or the body as a whole.

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