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The PIE source is positive, because it was applied as a euphemism in Latin to what would have been laevus (cf. Greek λαιός), from the PIE word for "left." The
by Telemakhos 1y ago
The PIE source is positive, because it was applied as a euphemism in Latin to what would have been laevus (cf. Greek λαιός), from the PIE word for "left." The Greeks, too, preferred euphemism to the direct term for "left": the much more common term ἀριστερά ("left") is a constrastive/comparative derived from ἄριστος, "best," so it means the "bester side."
- card_zero 1y agoNoa-names, a precaution against things like accidentally summoning a bear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noa-name https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noa-name
- ks2048 1y agoInteresting. I knew Spanish izquierda (left) came from Basque, but I didn't realize it was to avoid a taboo word like sinister.
- card_zero 1y agoThese are euphemisms to avoid another euphemism, as the other poster says, sinister itself starting out as positive. The ancient euphemism treadmill.