good
→
left
2 realizations
Related shifts
| ID | Meaning 1 | Direction | Meaning 2 |
| ACCEPTED Realization 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| type | Derivation | |
| language | Ancient Greek | |
| lexeme 1 | ἄριστος | |
| lexeme 2 | ἀριστερός | |
| meaning 1 | best | |
| direction | → | |
| meaning 2 | (euphemistic) left (opposite of right) | |
| reference | LSJ | |
| comment | According to Chantraine, the suffix -τερος serves to differentiate and create a euphemistic contrast with ἄριστος; an unusual formation. The latter is taken to indicate on the right side in this case, the left side being its literal and metaphorical opposite. |
|
| ACCEPTED Realization 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| type | Polysemy | |
| language | Ancient Greek | |
| lexeme | εὐώνυμος | |
| meaning 1 | of good name, honored | |
| direction | → | |
| meaning 2 | (euphemistic) on the left side | ἐτάχθησαν οὖν ἐπὶ τεττάρων· εἶχε δὲ τὸ μὲν δεξιὸν Μένων καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ, τὸ δὲ εὐώνυμον Κλέαρχος καὶ οἱ ἐκείνου, τὸ δὲ μέσον οἱ ἄλλοι στρατηγοί. (Xenophon, A. 1.15) So they formed the line four deep: Menon and his troops held the right wing, Clearchus and his troops the left, and the other generals the middle. |
| reference | LSJ | |
| comment | ||
Euphemistic.
Chantraine, Pierre, "Les noms de la gauche en grec", Comptes rendus de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres 99.3 (1955) 374-377.