Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Left \Left\, a. [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD.
   lucht, luft; cf. AS. left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyft[=a]dl
   palsy; or cf. AS. l[=e]f weak.]
   Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the
   muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the
   other side; -- opposed to {right}, when used in reference to
   a part of the body; as, the left hand, or arm; the left ear.
   Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.

   {Left bank of a river}, that which is on the left hand of a
      person whose face is turned downstream.

   {Left bower}. See under 2d {Bower}.

   {Left center}, the members whose sympathies are, in the main,
      with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme
      courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They
      sit between the Center and the extreme Left.

   {Over the left shoulder}, or {Over the left}, an old but
      still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as
      an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief;
      as, he said it, and it is true, -- over the left.

[Colloq.]

   {Over the left}. See under {Left}.

   {To run over} (Mach.), to have rotation in such direction
      that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of
      its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; -- said of a
      crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating
      piece.