\Left\ (l[e^]ft), imp. & p. p.
of {Leave}.

\Left\, a. [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD.
lucht, luft; cf. AS. left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyft[=a]dl
palsy; or cf. AS. l[=e]f weak.]
Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the
muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the
other side; -- opposed to {right}, when used in reference to
a part of the body; as, the left hand, or arm; the left ear.
Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.
{Left bank of a river}, that which is on the left hand of a
   person whose face is turned downstream.
{Left bower}. See under 2d {Bower}.
{Left center}, the members whose sympathies are, in the main,
   with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme
   courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They
   sit between the Center and the extreme Left.
{Over the left shoulder}, or {Over the left}, an old but
   still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as
   an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief;
   as, he said it, and it is true, -- over the left.

\Left\, n.
1. That part of surrounding space toward which the left side
   of one's body is turned; as, the house is on the left when
   you face North.
         Put that rose a little more to the left. --Ld.
                                               Lytton.
2. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who
   are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and
   extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand
   side of the presiding officer. See {Center}, and {Right}.

\Left\, a.
Situated so that the left side of the body is toward it; as,
the left side of a deliberative meeting is that to the left
of the presiding officer; the left wing of an army is that to
the left of the center to one facing an enemy.