[left] adj [ME, fr. OE, weak; akin to MLG lucht left; fr. the left hand's being the weaker in most individuals] (13c) 1 a: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located b: located nearer to the left hand than to the right c (1): located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified "stage ~" (2): located on the left when facing downstream "the ~ bank of a river"
2. often cap: of, adhering to, or constituted by the left esp. in politics -- left adv
[2]left n (13c) 1 a: the left hand b: the location or direction of the left side c: the part on the left side
2. a: left field b: a blow struck with the left fist 3 often cap a: the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer b: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members
4. cap a: those professing views usu. characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order esp. in politics and usu. advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man b: a radical as distinguished from a conservative position [3]left past and past part of leave