left-handinessn.
/ˌlɛftˈhandɪnᵻs/, U.S. /ˌlɛftˈhændinᵻs/ rare.
Awkward manner. Also (in later use): left-handedness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > [noun] > favouring one side
left-handednessa1631
dextrality1646
right-handedness1730
left-handiness1749
right-sidedness1837
sinistrality1852
sinisterity1854
left-leggednessa1861
dexteritya1882
mancinism1890
handedness1915
the mind > attention and judgement > bad taste > lack of refinement > inelegance > [noun] > ungracefulness
ungracefulness1658
awkwardness1705
ungainness1727
left-handiness1749
ungainliness1755
lankiness1893
1749 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 27 Sept. in Lett. to Son (1774) I. 464 An awkward address, ungraceful attitudes and actions, and a certain left-handiness [later edd. left-handedness] (if I may use that word) loudly proclaim low education.
1885 F. Schilling Princ. & Rules Accent Eng. Lang. 6 The second part has the principal accent in compound substantives ending in -ness..; for example: short-sightedness, left-handiness, light-heartedness etc.
1970 Child Study Jrnl. Fall 3 Schools now tend to accept left-handiness as a normal condition.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1749