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Webster 1913 Edition


Dexter

Dex′ter

(dĕks′tẽr)
,
Adj.
[L.,; akin to Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK], Skr.
dakshiṇa
(cf.
daksh
to be strong, suit); Goth.
taihswa
, OHG.
zeso
. Cf.
Dexterous
.]
1.
Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed to
sinister
, or
left
.
On sounding wings a
dexter
eagle flew.
Pope.
2.
(Her.)
On the right-hand side of a shield, i. e., towards the right hand of its wearer. To a spectator in front, as in a pictorial representation, this would be the left side.
Dexter chief
, or
Dexter point
(Her.)
,
a point in the dexter upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut.
Dexter base
,
a point in the dexter lower part or base of the shield, as B in the cut.

Webster 1828 Edition


Dexter

DEXTER

,
Adj.
[L., Gr.] Right, as opposed to left; a term used in heraldry, to denote the right side of a shield or coat of arms; as, bend-dexter; dexter-point.

Definition 2024


Dexter

Dexter

See also: dexter

English

Proper noun

Dexter

  1. An occupational surname for a female dyer.
  2. Any of a number of places in the U.S.A. and Canada, named for persons with the surname.
  3. A male given name transferred from the surname.
    • 1969 Coretta Scott King, My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, pages 204-205:
      I was in Atlanta with our three children — our second son, Dexter, named for our beloved church in Montgomery, had been born in January, and was still an infant.

Translations

Noun

Dexter (plural Dexters)

  1. One of a breed of small hardy cattle originating from the Kerry breed of Ireland, valuable for beef and milk. They are usually chiefly black, sometimes red, and somewhat resemble a small shorthorn in build.

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowing from English Dexter.

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈdɛksteʁ/

Proper noun

Dexter m

  1. A male given name, equivalent to English Dexter

dexter

dexter

See also: Dexter

English

Adjective

dexter (not comparable)

  1. Right; on the right-hand side.
    • 1887, George William Foote; J. M. Wheeler, Crimes of Christianity, London: Progressive Publishing:
      Displaying his dexter palm, he exclaimed that there was a hand that never took a bribe; whereupon a smart auditor cried "How about the one behind your back?"
    • 1911, Saki, ‘The Match-Maker’, The Chronicles of Clovis:
      Clovis wiped the trace of Turkish coffee and the beginnings of a smile from his lips, and slowly lowered his dexter eyelid.

Translations

Noun

dexter (plural dexters)

  1. (heraldry) The right side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the left side to the viewer.
  2. right hand

See also


Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *deksteros, from Proto-Indo-European *deḱs-. Cognates include Ancient Greek δεξιός (dexiós) and Sanskrit दक्षिण (dákṣiṇa).

Adjective

dexter m (feminine dextra or dextera, neuter dextrum or dexterum); first/second declension

  1. right (relative direction), right hand
  2. skillful
  3. fortunate, favorable
  4. proper, fitting

Inflection

First/second declension, nominative masculine singular in -er.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
nominative dexter dextra dextrum dextrī dextrae dextra
genitive dextrī dextrae dextrī dextrōrum dextrārum dextrōrum
dative dextrō dextrō dextrīs
accusative dextrum dextram dextrum dextrōs dextrās dextra
ablative dextrō dextrā dextrō dextrīs
vocative dexter dextra dextrum dextrī dextrae dextra

or

First/second declension, nominative masculine singular in -er.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masculine Feminine Neuter Masculine Feminine Neuter
nominative dexter dextera dexterum dexterī dexterae dextera
genitive dexterī dexterae dexterī dexterōrum dexterārum dexterōrum
dative dexterō dexterō dexterīs
accusative dexterum dexteram dexterum dexterōs dexterās dextera
ablative dexterō dexterā dexterō dexterīs
vocative dexter dextera dexterum dexterī dexterae dextera

Antonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Descendants

References