right-handedadj.adv.
/ˌrʌɪtˈhandᵻd/, U.S. /ˌraɪtˈhæn(d)əd/ A. adj.
I. General uses.
1. † b. figurative and in extended use. Skilful, dexterous. Cf. left-handed adj. 2b. Obsolete. rare.
a. Of a person: having the right hand or arm naturally stronger or more dexterous than the left; using the right hand more naturally than the left.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > [adjective] > favouring one side
right-handeda1398
left-handeda1425
left hand1440
left-legged1606
sinister1818
katy-handed1822
left-footed1832
right-sided1850
cack-handed1854
dextral1871
sinistral1871
left-sided1875
lefty1886
southpaw1886
handed1910
molly-dook1941
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 51v A womman is noȝt lift honded & riȝt honded.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. vii. 80 A ranke [of archers] on the right side, whiche are lefthanded, and another vpon the left being right handed.
1629 J. Achesone Mil. Garden 32 Obserue that if hee bee a right handed man· that his right foote goe alwayes backe to one place, and if left handed, his left foote alwayes backe to one place.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 191 Some are..ambidexterous or right handed on both sides. View more context for this quotation
1702 H. Blackwell Eng. Fencing-master 53 It is very troublesome for a Right-handed man to fence with one that is Left.
1795 J. Holt Gen. View Agric. Lancaster (new ed.) xii. 119 The number of workmen are six fillers and getters; usually two right-handed men at one wheel, and two left-handed at the other.
1814 Sporting Mag. 44 71 Smith was the heaviest man and a right-handed punisher.
1889 Cent. Mag. Oct. 836/2 This is a delivery by a right-handed pitcher which causes the ball to curve away from a right-handed batsman.
1902 Daily Chron. 22 May 3/4 Each half [of the cerebrum] governs the opposite side of the body, and..as we are right-handed, so we may be called left-brained.
1979 M. B. Quinion Drink for its Time (Mus. Cider, Hereford) 23 Out of the six hundred or so [stone mills] we have recorded, all are designed to turn clockwise. This partly reflects the need to design for a right-handed man.
1993 A. Taylor Freelance Death (BNC) 87 The slant of the stab wounds suggested that the assailant was right-handed.
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the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > skilful or adroit
hendc1275
happya1400
clean1485
habile1485
practivea1500
feat1519
well-handeda1529
handsome1542
trick1542
neat1571
dexterous1622
adroit1652
right-handeda1661
artful1663
nitle1673
ambidextrousa1682
clever1716
jemmy1751
slick1807
sleek1822
cleverish1826
featy1844
two-handed1861
nifty1889
mean1918
organized1926
ept1938
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Devon 264 He was right-handed in the Cyclopedy of all Arts.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Worc. 175 He was..right-handed to any great imployment.
2. Of or relating to the right hand regarded as the stronger or better of the two; good, worthy, favourable.Chiefly in translations of or allusions to classical or Biblical texts. †right-handed error: = right-hand error n. at right hand adj. 1b (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > [adjective] > on the right side
an error on (also of) the right handa1591
right-handed1616
right hand1631
1616 B. Jonson Cynthias Revels (rev. ed.) iv. iii, in Wks. I. 223 A most right-handed, and auspicious encounter.
1656 J. Bramhall Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon 8 Yet these [schisms] were not about the essentialls of Religion, but about a right-handed error, even too much admiration of their Pastors.
1679 T. Pierce Decad of Caveats to People Eng. 121 If ever there were an Errour to be commended out of a Pulpit, it is the right-handed Errour of too much Caution.
1744 D. Whitby Paraphr. on 2nd Epist. to Corinthians vi, in Paraphr. & Comm. New Test. (ed. 6) 262/1 The Antients stiled foolish Things Left-handed, but wise Things right-handed.
1822 T. Mitchell tr. Dicast turned Gentleman in tr. Aristophanes Comedies II. 295 I this last conclusion draw, That for smart right-handed wisdom none my equal ever saw. But your branded and left-handed folly I beg leave to pass.
1842 Oracle of Reason 1 271/2 He doubtless felt that in his position left-handed was better than right-handed wisdom; that a lie was better than a hurtful truth.
1987 G. R. Lewis & B. A. Demarest Integrative Theol. I. ii. 66/2 Luther likewise propounded a two-fold scheme of revelation and knowledge, under the rubric ‘general knowledge of God’ (which he also called ‘legal’ and ‘left-handed’ knowledge) and ‘particular knowledge of God’ (or ‘evangelical’ and ‘right-handed’ knowledge).
2001 F. Ledegang tr. Origen in Mysterium Ecclesiae 388 A worthy leader of the nation and a judge in the church, who does not do anything in a left-handed way..has two right hands: he is right-handed in faith and he is right-handed in deeds, he has got nothing in him of those who are set on the left.
3.
a. Of a glove: made to be worn on the right hand.See sense A. 3b for baseball use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for hands > [adjective] > types of gloves
cut-fingered1591
prick-seamed1624
right-handed1700
fingered1739
gauntleted1810
tilbury'd1901
ambidextrous1919
1700 T. Brown Amusem. Serious & Comical iii. 25 A London Alderman, who sold a Jew five Fats of Right-handed Gloves, without any Fellows to them.
1834 T. Thacker Courser's Compan. (ed. 2) I. 21 If you buy a pair of gloves, the seller offers you the right handed glove to try if it will fit your right hand.
1851 Comic Almanack 341 The firm of Smith and Co. have advertised a grand scramble of left-handed gloves on Monday, and the right-handed ones on Tuesday.
1977 P. C. W. Davies Space & Time in Mod. Universe i. 9 It is a familiar experience that a left-handed glove cannot be turned into a right-handed glove no matter how it is twisted and turned (except inside out).
2003 H. C. Lee & F. Tirnady Bad Blood x. 243 Using his small flashlight..he found a dark leather, right-handed glove that appeared to match the glove found at the Bundy crime scene.
b. Of a tool, instrument, etc.: designed to be used with the right hand or by a right-handed person.In Baseball: designating a glove worn by a right-handed person on the left hand, leaving the right arm free for throwing.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > tool > types of tools generally > [adjective] > worked by hand > right or left, one or two
two-handy1648
left-handeda1657
two-handed1657
uphand1678
left hand1776
single-handed1834
right-handed1891
lefty1954
1696 B. Kennett Romæ Antiquæ Notitia ii. vi. 286 Old Donatus would have us believe, that the Right-handed, or Lydian Flutes denoted the more serious Matter and Language of the Comedy: That the Left-handed, or Sarranæ were proper to express the lightness of a more jocose Stile.
1734 T. Cooke tr. Terence Comedys II. 216 Music for two right-handed Flutes [L. tibiis duabis dextris].
1891 D. Wilson Right Hand 138 It is a right-handed implement.
1921 G. Beaumont Hearts & Diamond 288 Carey climbed into Class Double A baseball, travelling 600 miles with a harmonica valise containing a red flannel undershirt, a toothbrush, and a right-handed glove.
1989 C. S. Murray Crosstown Traffic ii. 35 Even restrung, a right-handed guitar requires modification.
1994 Guitarist Sept. 126/2 The WG-10T is..at present only available as a right-handed model.
2007 T. Kurkjian Is this Great Game, or What? xii. 195 He showed me the special glove he had made, one that, with an adjustment, would go from a right-handed glove to a left-handed glove.
c. Performed or effected with the right hand; characterized by use of the right hand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > striking with specific thing > [adjective] > with the hand > with right or left hand
left-handed?1790
left hand1791
right-handed1807
1807 Times 9 Apr. 3/3 Crib stopped the right-handed blow, but the other told, and Belcher fell on it.
?a1820 Debtor & Creditor 41 If you resent that, it's ten to one but you're complimented with a right-handed facer.
1886 Times 16 June 6/4 At 21 Henderson lost to company of Burton, who was out to a right handed catch at slip.
1939 Elem. School Jrnl. 39 440 As long as teachers insist on a ‘right-handed’ slant (a slant of about forty-five degrees to the right) the pupil, as soon as he begins to use ink, must make one of four adjustments.
2003 M. Lewis Moneyball iii. 49 In response to his special inconsistency against right-handed pitching, Billy played around with switch-hitting.
4. Located on or orientated towards the right.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adjective] > to the right
right-handed1889
1889 H. M. Doughty Summer in Broadland vii. 108 It [sc. a narrow channel] led past a half-sunken wreck, by a right-handed turn to the mouth of an inlet.
1901 C. Richardson Eng. Turf vii. 186 There is one right-handed bend, some three furlongs from the finish, which places the run-in at right angles to the rest of the course.
1980 A. Goldhammer tr. G. Duby Three Orders Feudal Soc. Imagined iv. xix. 246 The two orders of laymen and clerks are knit together in a homogenous whole ‘like the two sides of a single body.’.. It was common knowledge which side was superior: the right-handed side. Laymen were accordingly placed on the left.
1999 J. Buchan Persian Bride (2002) iii. 25 I..saw, down a right-handed path, a wooden kiosk which gave out flickering lights.
II. Scientific and technical uses.
5.
a. Characterized by clockwise rotation or rightward direction.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adjective] > having sideways direction > directed towards the right
right-handed1767
rightward1825
rightwards1917
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrically induced magnetism > electromagnetic induction > [adjective] > relating to coil
right-handed1876
air core1894
1767 J. Ferguson Suppl. to Lect. 22 The axle G is cut into a double threaded screw..which must be (what is called) a right handed screw..if the first wheel turns in the direction A B C D; but must be a left handed screw, if the stream turns the wheel the contrary way.
1846 C. Holtzapffel Turning & Mech. Manip. II. 604 An..imperfect expedient for producing a left-handed screw from a right-handed tap.
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy 52 Electromagnets are almost invariably wound with the right-handed helix.
1934 I. M. Freeman tr. G. Joos Theoret. Physics xv. 296 The current in the segment, the magnetic field, and the ponderomotive force must form a right-handed orthogonal system in this order.
1997 New Scientist 18 Jan. 34/2 Others, such as Type IIa [closed strings], have left and right-handed particles.
b. Of an optically active substance or crystal: causing the plane of polarization to rotate in a clockwise direction; dextrorotatory; (of a molecule) belonging to such a substance. Formerly also: (of such a crystal) †having pyramid-like facets which lean to the right, and were thought to cause such polarization (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > isomerism > [adjective] > of or relating to stereo-isomerism > of or relating to optical isomerism > dextro-rotatory
right-handed1821
dextro-rotatory1876
D1894
1821 Brit. Critic Nov. 502 Mr. Herschel..continued his observations on many other specimens, some of which were left, and others, right handed.
1866 H. E. Roscoe Lessons Elem. Chem. xxxvii. 325 Dextrose, or right-handed glucose.
1895 N. Story-Maskelyne Crystallogr. 316 A crystal of quartz..will, if right-handed, present on three alternate quoins at each end of the prism plagihedral faces arranged in the form of a right-handed screw.
1944 R. W. Moncrieff Chem. Senses ix. 229 Why..should it be surprising that a left-handed substance has a different effect from an otherwise similar but right-handed substance on our olfactory apparatus?
1989 J. L. Casti Paradigms Lost vi. 356 By chance the left-handed amino acids and the right-handed sugars ‘took off’ first.
2008 N. Stein tr. S. Balibar Atom & Apple ii. 19 In 1848, when Pasteur synthesized crystals of tartar in a test tube, he found both left-handed and right-handed crystals.
c. Of plane polarization: with the plane rotated in a clockwise direction; (of circular polarization) with the plane describing a clockwise (right-handed) helix.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > polarization > [adjective] > affected by rotation or direction
left-handed1767
right-handed1829
aeolotropic1865
anisotropic1879
magnetogyric1904
1829 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) I. x. 43/1 In the present case, the right-handed passes gradually into the left-handed polarisation.
1854 B. Powell Pereira's Lect. Polarized Light (ed. 2) 254 I shall adopt Biot's nomenclature, and designate the polarization right-handed or left-handed, according as we have to turn the analyzing prism to the right or to the left.
c1865 J. Wylde Circle of Sci. I. 84/2 Such bodies have what is called right-handed polarisation.
1947 Ann. Reg. 1946 389 The right-handed circular polarisation preponderated as a large suspect approached the Sun's meridian.
2004 J. W. Hovenier et al. Transfer Polarized Light Planetary Atmospheres i. 4 The sign..is positive for right-handed polarization and negative for left-handed polarization.
6. Conchology. Of a gastropod shell.
a. Having the opening to the right when the apex points downwards; = sinistral adj. 7a(a). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Mollusca > [adjective] > of parts of molluscs > of shell or parts of shell
testaceous1668
trivalvous1681
articulate1685
tabulous1734
concamerated1747
costated1751
ribbed1752
multivalve1753
umbilical1755
multivalved1759
trichite1765
right-handed1776
ventricose1777
unequivalved1788
sinistral1803
white-lipped1813
white-mouthed1815
turriculated1822
umbonial1824
turreted1826
siphunculated1828
columellar1829
sinistrorsal1830
canaliferous1834
spirivalve1835
turrited1835
versant1839
mitriform1843
paucispiral1843
turriculate1843
siphuncled1847
ventricous1850
camerated1851
convolute1851
perforated1851
parietal1854
septiferous1854
planorbiform1856
planorboid1856
trivalved1856
turrite1856
siphunculate1875
turriform1875
umbonic1877
costate1881
interlocular1888
varicated1891
lirate1894
evolute1896
1776 E. M. da Costa Elements Conchol. 119 Right-handed Shells (heterostropha) are such whose whirls, or convolutions, turn from right to left, or contrary to the most general manner of turbinated Univalves.
1833 H. Martineau Illustr. Polit. Econ. VII. xx. i. 15 One corner of her garment seemed to be very carefully cherished by her. It contained the precious right-handed chank.
1913 E. Thurston Madras Presidency xxiv. 223 The rare right-handed chank..is said to have been sometimes priced at a lakh of rupees.
1969 H. Ellawala Social Hist. Early Ceylon ii. 23 A Kṣatríya Princess, sent by Asoka, performed the ceremony of Abhiṣeka over the head of Devānaṃpiya Tissa with a right handed chank filled with water from Lake Anotatta.
b. Having the opening to the right when the apex points upwards; = dextral adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [adjective] > of parts of > of shell
monothalamous1834
right-handed1838
monothalamic1845
palatal1854
oliviform1857
1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 108/2 Shell cylindrical, very spiral;..right or left-handed (dextral or sinistral).
1851 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca i. 99 Nearly all the spiral shells are dextral, or right-handed.
1961 J. Stubblefield Davies's Introd. Palaeontol. (ed. 3) iii. 72 When the shell is placed in the usual position..the aperture is seen on the right-hand side of the base, this being a right-handed spiral or dextral shell, as is the case with the great majority of gastropods.
2001 M. Gardner Colossal Bk. Math. ix. 120 There are thousands of beautiful molluscan shells that are either left- or right-handed.
B. adv.
1. Towards the right; clockwise.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > direction > specific directions > [adverb] > in sideways direction > to right and left > towards the right
righta1500
rightward1555
rightwards?1597
right-handed1841
dextrally1881
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adverb] > to the right
rightsomesa1398
dexter1726
right-handedly1846
right-handed1900
1841 R. H. Dana Seaman's Man. 34 Ropes..of three strands, laid right handed, or, as it is called, with the sun.
1846 Mech. Mag. Apr. 260/1 In fig, 1, the current is driving in the direction of the arrow, and the vortical flow is turning right-handed.
1860 J. M. Boyd Man. Naval Cadets (ed. 2) 148 Yarns are spun up right handed. Strands intended for right-handed rope are spun up left-handed; and those for left-handed rope right-handed.
1900 Westm. Gaz. 30 Nov. 4/3 Turning right-handed short of Norton Brook.
1929 Morning Post 30 Dec. 13/1 He [sc. a fox]..left at the Toft end going..leaving Kingston village right-handed.
1976 Horse & Hound 3 Dec. 22/2 He ran right-handed over Clawson Lodge, Clawson Hill Farm..where he tried the earths.
1990 S. Magee Great Races (BNC) 110 The runners veer right-handed off the main course towards the line.
2. With the right hand; in the manner of a right-handed person.
ΚΠ
1862 Harper's Mag. June 141/2 When he is among nice people whom he likes he plays right-handed.
1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 15 Apr. 8/5 Davis came up to bat... He faced the twirler right-handed. He always does with southpaws.
1919 Proc. 8th Ann. Congr. National Safety Council 1312 The man should never have put a clamp of that kind on with a stud of an inch and three-eighths, and he should not have filed it right-handed.
1956 Baseball Digest Oct. 44/2 He's a natural right-hander, except at the plate. He throws, shaves, eats and writes right-handed.
2004 D. J. Noble Beginner's Guide to Playing Guitar i. 9 You would be well advised to play right-handed for the greater choice of guitars this gives.
Compounds
right-handed mill a mill designed to be turned in a clockwise direction.
ΚΠ
1805 D. Brewster in Ferguson's Lect. Mech. (new ed.) II. 164 We have represented in Plate 1..the grinding surface of the upper millstone, upon the supposition that it moves from east to west, or for what is called a right-handed mill.
1815 O. Gregory Treat. Mech. (ed. 3) II. 190 In those [roads or furrows] represented in the figures the running mill-stone is supposed to turn ‘sun-way’, or as in what is called a right-handed mill.
2002 C. McManus Right Hand, Left Hand ii. 23 Many medieval and early modern machines such as windmills, watermills and grinding machines have rotating parts (and a millstone that rotates clockwise is called a ‘right-handed mill’).
right-handed rope n. = right-hand rope n. at right hand n. and adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > ropes or chains other than rigging or cable > [noun] > rope collective or as material > laid to the right
right-handed rope1832
right-hand rope1841
1832 Zool. Jrnl. 5 346 The Carinæ are nodulous, or twisted like the strands of a rope; the twists of the upper carina are in the direction of a water-laid, or right-handed rope.
1860 J. M. Boyd Man. Naval Cadets (ed. 2) 148 Strands intended for right-handed rope are spun up left-handed.
1972 G. L. Danton Theory & Pract. Seamanship (ed. 4) xvi. 414 A capstan or drum that will only revolve clockwise should be used only for a right-handed rope.
1994 R. C. Anderson Rigging of Ships in Days of Spritsail Topmast vi. 94 With right-handed rope the end goes from left to right and comes up on the left hand side of the shroud.
Derivatives
right-ˈhandedly adv. in a right-handed manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > sideways movement or a sideways movement > [adverb] > to the right
rightsomesa1398
dexter1726
right-handedly1846
right-handed1900
1846 Cambr. & Dublin Math. Jrnl. 1 56 The direction of the divisor line a must be caused or conceived to turn, right-handedly, through a right angle.
1927 Observer 18 Sept. 8/2 My information does not go so far as to say whether they eat nuts right-handedly or left-handedly.
1990 D. Attenborough Trials of Life 147 Long narrow fibres that spiral downwards, some right-handedly and some left-handedly.
2002 D. Latham How Children Learn to Write i. 7 There should never be any attempt to force a left-handed child to write or draw right-handedly.
right-ˈhandedness n. the quality, state, or condition of being right-handed.
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
1730 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum Dexterity, right-handedness; aptness, readiness.
1831 Edinb. Jrnl. Sci. 5 332 This may be considered as the definition of right-handedness of the crystal.
1876 D. Wilson Prehist. Man (ed. 3) I. 107 The question of right-handedness, as a natural or acquired practice peculiar to man, has a special interest.
1990 Sci. Amer. Jan. (Italy Suppl.) 98 (heading) From atoms to human beings, nature is asymmetric with respect to chirality, or left- and right-handedness.
2003 C. Karton Making Grade iii. 174 Right-handedness is a dominant trait; left-handedness is recessive.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.a1398