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senestre. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
senestre, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
senestre in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
senestre you have here. The definition of the word
senestre will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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French
Etymology
From Middle French senestre, from Old French senestre, from Late Latin sinextrum, from Latin sinistrum. Doublet of sinistre, a borrowing from Latin.
The expected result of the Middle French senestre, pronounced approximately as /səˈnɛːtrə/, should have been senêtre in modern French (which does exist in heraldic jargon). A spelling-pronunciation, with etymologically restored /s/, came to predominate as the word became increasingly archaic, having been driven out of common usage as the word for "left" by gauche in the sixteenth century.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /sə.nɛstʁ/, /se.nɛstʁ/
Adjective
senestre (plural senestres)
- (dated) (on the) left
- (heraldry) sinister; left-hand side of the shield
- Antonym: dextre
See also
References
Middle French
Etymology
From Old French senestre.
Noun
senestre m (uncountable)
- left (left-hand side)
Descendants
Old French
Etymology
Inherited from Late Latin sinextrum, from Latin sinistrum.
Pronunciation
- (classical) IPA(key): /səˈnɛstɾə/
- (late) IPA(key): /səˈnɛːtɾə/
Adjective
senestre m (oblique and nominative feminine singular senestre)
- left (on the left-hand side)
Declension
Descendants