† winsteradj.n.

Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian winstera , Old Saxon winistar , Old High German winistar (Middle High German winster ), Old Icelandic vinstri , Old Swedish vinstre (Swedish vänster ), Old Danish vinstre (Danish venstre ), apparently reflecting a formation on the Germanic base of Old English wine friend (see wine n.²) with an Indo-European double comparative suffix formed from the comparative suffix reflected by classical Latin -is (in e.g. magis , nimis : see -er suffix³) plus the comparative suffix reflected by Sanskrit -tara , ancient Greek -τερος , classical Latin -ter (see other adj., pron., n., and adv.²); the formation therefore exactly parallels the suffixation of synonymous classical Latin sinister sinister adj. Apparently originally a euphemistic designation for the side that is perceived to be weaker and therefore inferior and less favoured; compare likewise ancient Greek ἀριστερός (a derivative of ἄριστος best: see aristo- comb. form) and perhaps also classical Latin sinister (see sinister adj.), and see further discussion at left adj.¹, n., and adv.).