Meanings
- uncountableThe direction which is to the left from an object's perspective, the direction 90 degrees counter-clockwise from the front.
Detail of damage to plaster on proper left side of top chain
2009, Stephanie E. Hornbeck, “A Conservation Conundrum”, in African Arts, volume 42, number 3, page 522 more examples
The key in the lock served to open the proper left-hand door, while the proper right door was secured by a hook and eye of forged iron […]
2006 April, Jean M Burks, “Quebec country furniture at the Shelburne Museum”, in Magazine Antiques, volume 169, number 4, page 124The nose and proper left ear were also inset, stone restorations, with dark resin visible surrounding the joints.
2012 May 2, “Search object details”, in British Museum, archived from the original on 16 Jan 2013
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe direction which is to the left from an object's perspective, the direction 90 degrees counter-clockwise from the front.
Origin
- Latinproprius
- Englishproper left
proper (in the sense of "its own") + left; from Latin proprius.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
proper left. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20left
“proper left.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20left. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “proper left,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/proper%20left.
Source: proper left on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.