释义 |
▪ I. † ˈdexter, n. Obs. rare. [app.:—OE. *deaᵹestre, deᵹestre, deᵹstre, f. deaᵹían to dye: cf. dyester.] A dyer.
14..Pueritia vel Infancia Christi 569 in Horstmann Altengl. Leg. (1878) 119/2 A dyer yn hys dore he stode..Þe dexter on Jhesu dede calle: Knowst þou owte of mystere? Ibid. 613 Þe dexter toke vp a fyre-brond. ▪ II. dexter, n.4 U.S. slang. Brit. |ˈdɛkstə|, U.S. |ˈdɛkstər| [Shortened ‹poindexter n.] = poindexter n.
1985W. Safire in N.Y. Times Mag. 22 Sept. 16/2 The strongest competition to squid and grimbo as successor term to nerd is dexter. 1991D. Gaines Teenage Wasteland iii. 57 On another coast—they'd be toners. Archenemies of jocks, dexters, rah-rahs, or socs for all eternity. ▪ III. dexter, a. (n.1 and adv.)|ˈdɛkstə(r)| [a. L. dexter on the right hand or right side, right, a comparative form from root dex- cognate with Gr. δεξιός, and Goth. taihswa, Skr. daksha, daksh-ina, from a primitive form *dekswo-.] A. adj. 1. Belonging to or situated on the right side of a person, animal, or object worn on the body; right; esp. in Her. the opposite of sinister. The dexter side of a person, animal, shield, etc., is to the left of the spectator facing it, which is important in Heraldry: see quot. 1882.
1562Leigh Armorie (1597) 64 b, Seing you call this a Bende Sinister, wherfore did you not call the other dexter bend? Because it is knowne to all..if it bee named a bend and no more to be a bende dexter. 1572J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 33 b, At the Dexter angle of the shielde. 1600J. Dymmok Ireland (1843) 33 There was loste in the retreyte of the dexter winge of the forlorne hope, capten Boswell. 1705Lond. Gaz. NO. 4110/4 A Dexter Hand holding a Branch of Acorns. 1762Falconer Shipwr. i. 766 The imperial trident graced her dexter hand. 1878Browning Poets Croisic cxv, [He] pressed to heart His dexter hand. 1882Cussans Handbk. Her. 45 The right-hand side..[of the shield] would be towards the left of a spectator; and in a representation of a coat of arms, that part of the shield which appears on the left side is called the Dexter, and that on the right, the Sinister. fig.1581Marbeck Bk. of Notes 270 Aristotle in Politices, admonisheth that men which haue learned to do sinister things, ought not be compelled to doe thinges dextere. †b. Situated on the side which is to the right of the spectator. Obs.
1674S. Jeake Arith. (1696) 210 The dexter Figure of the Quotient shall be Primes. †c. Of omens: Seen or heard on the right side; hence, auspicious, favourable, propitious. Obs.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud Ep. iv. v. 191 Sinister and dexter respects. 1676Hobbes Iliad (1677) 203 This said, an eagle dexter presently Flew over them. 1715–20Pope Iliad xiii. 1039 On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. d. Belonging to the right hand; right; straightforward, fair. rare.
a1734North Exam. iii. vii. §53 (1740) 542 The managers of these Petitions used all Manner of Arts, dexter and sinister, to gain People's Hands or Marks. †2. = dexterous. Obs.
1597Lowe Chirurg. (1634) 320 A man of great learning and experience, most fortunate and dexter in this operation. 1622F. Markham Bk. War ii. i. §6. 43 He is..more swift, more dexter, and more seruiceable. 1659Torriano, Fiero, nimble, lively, dexter either of body or mind. B. n. The right (hand or side).
1814Cary Dante, Paradise xv. 18 The horn That on the dexter of the cross extends. C. adv. On the right side, to the right.
1715–20Pope Odyss. xv. 184 The bird majestic flew Full dexter to the car. Ibid. 573 Yon bird that dexter cuts the aërial road, Rose ominous. D. Comb. dexterways, -wise, on the right side, to the right.
1610J. Guillim Heraldry iv. xiv. (1611) 224 Foure speares in bend garnished with Penoncels dexterwaies. |