Etymology

ambidextrous

am·bi·dex·trous
A1M3B3I1D2E1X8T1R1O1U1S1

Today it means: Having equal or comparable ability in both hands; in particular, able to write well with both hands. Full definition →

Ancient Greek ἀμφοτεροδέξιος
Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀμφοτεροδέξιος
  2. English todayambidextrous

From Medieval Latin ambidexter + -ous, the former from ambi- (“both”) + dexter (“right”), thus literally “both hands being like a right hand”. By surface analysis, ambi- (“both”) + dextrous (“skillful; agile”). The Latin word is first attested in the Vetus Latina, calquing Ancient Greek ἀμφοτεροδέξιος (amphoterodéxios) in Judges 3:15 after the Septuagint, itself translating Hebrew אִטֵּר יַד יְמִינוֹ (iṭṭēr yaḏ yəmīnō, literally “bound in his right hand”). This phrase is now generally translated as “left-handed”; the Septuagint translation is either from a variant reading or from a different interpretation.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.