Cognate Set 1504 – Meaning: left

IE-CoR reference form:
ἀριστερός / aristerós
IE-CoR reference language:
Greek: Ancient
Ideophonic:
no
Parallel derivation:
no
Justification:
Root etymology uncertain. Perhaps to *h₂er- 'to fit (together)' (cf. LIV² 269-270) in the original sense 'more fitting' > 'better' > 'the better side, left' via popular euphemism (Chantraine 1968–1980:106-107, Beekes 2010:128, 131-132).
Found in clades:
Hellenic
Revised by:
Matthew Scarborough
Found in 1 clade by 3 lexemes.
Language Lexeme Native script Phonetic Phonemic Notes
6   Greek: Ancient aristerós ἀριστερός ariste̞ró̞s ariste̞ró̞s G.sg. ἀριστεροῦ
8   Greek: Modern Std aristerós αριστερός ariste̞ˈros ariste̞ˈros
7   Greek: New Testament aristerós ἀριστερός ariste̞ˈro̞s ariste̞ˈro̞s
References
  • Beekes, Robert: 128, 131-132
    S.v. ἀριστερός 'left'. Generally assumed to be connected with ἄρισ-τος 'best' and the comparative ἀρείων 'better, stronger, nobler', with the contrastive-suffix -τερο-. perhaps further to the root *h₂er- found in Gk. ἀραρίσκω 'to fit, join together' with an original meaning 'more fitting'.
  • Chantraine, Pierre: 106-107
    S.v. AGk. ἀρείων, ἄριστος, ἀριστερός, etc.
  • Scarborough, Matthew:
    Originally a euphemism for the left-side in Ancient Greek. Formed using the -tero- contrastive suffix to the same root of the suppletive comparative and superlative of 'good' ἀρείων 'better', ἄριστος 'best'; thus ἀριστερός 'better of (the) two' > 'left(hand) side'. Less-commonly found in Ancient Greek is εὐώνυμος 'of good name' (lit.) > 'left', but this usage is rare.