RIGHT
Wild Word Friday!
RIGHT is one of those words that takes up half a column in my dictionary, but, because this blog is short, I’ll limit my post to one meaning only – the RIGHT that refers to side of your body which “points” east when you’re facing north. I know. That sounds complicated. So let’s simplify. Your RIGHT hand. That’s what I’m talking about.
The concept of RIGHT comes to us from that ancient forerunner of most European languages, Indo-European. In that language we have the prefix reg-, which means straight or to put into order. Reg- morphed into the Anglo-Saxon, riht, which is also a first cousin to the German word recht. Eventually (and it took awhile in the English language, actually into the 1300s) , the hand farthest away from the heart began to be referred to as the RIGHT hand – the correct hand. RIGHT, it’s tough to be a lefty.
In my family, every other person is left-handed. To avoid dueling elbows, we’ve perfected the art of seating lefties at the ends and corners of the dinner table. My sister (a lefty) helped us out by marrying Tom, who is completely ambidextrous.
So tell us, are you a RIGHTy or a lefty or one of those rare people who are ambidextrous?
Blessings!
Sue
(Some information gleaned from A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages by Carl Darling Buck.
This cousin is woefully right handed to the point that sometimes I think my left is useless. I guess I’d find out differently if my right hand was suddenly incapable of daily activities.
I’m like you, Margaret, but I’ve been trying to use my left hand more often since I read that doing so helps your brain power!
Writing with one’s least dominate hand helps ‘write’ on the brain, thus making a stronger impression. Spelling grades have been known to improve using this trick.
Karen, I wonder if my spelling would improve? I’m such a poor speller!
Sue I’m like you I wish my spelling also improve? Thank goodness for dictionary.My hearing in my primary years didn’t help! I use my right hand for most things when it comes to open tin fruit I go opposite way!!
That is strange, Trish, about opening the tinned fruit the opposite way. Can openers are one of those things that are so tempermental. I’ve always felt sorry for my left-handed brother and sister when it comes to opening tins and using scissors!