What does "ambilevous" mean?
Having equally bad ability in both hands; clumsy; butterfingered.
Ambilevous
/ˌæmbɪˈliːvəs/ adj
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Having equally bad ability in both hands; clumsy; butterfingered.
- Grammar: ambilevous is listed as adj.
- Useful contrasts: ambidextrous.
- Usage evidence: Again, Some are Ἀμφαριστεροὶ as Galen hath expreſſed : that is, Ambilevous or left-handed on both ſides; ſuch as with agility and vigour have not the uſe of either : who are not gymnaſtically compoſed : nor actively uſe thoſe parts. Now in theſe there is no right hand : of this conſtitution are many women, and ſome men, who though they accuſtome themſelves unto either hand, do dexterouſly make uſe of neither.
How to use "ambilevous"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
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Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "ambilevous" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Having equally bad ability in both hands; clumsy; butterfingered. rare
"Again, Some are Ἀμφαριστεροὶ as Galen hath expreſſed : that is, Ambilevous or left-handed on both ſides; ſuch as with agility and vigour have not the uſe of either : who are not gymnaſtically compoſed : nor actively uſe thoſe parts. Now in theſe there is no right hand : of this conſtitution are many women, and ſome men, who though they accuſtome themſelves unto either hand, do dexterouſly make uſe of neither."
Antonyms
Example
"Again, Some are Ἀμφαριστεροὶ as Galen hath expreſſed : that is, Ambilevous or left-handed on both ſides; ſuch as with agility and vigour have not the uſe of either : who are not gymnaſtically compoſed : nor actively uſe thoſe parts. Now in theſe there is no right hand : of this conſtitution are many women, and ſome men, who though they accuſtome themſelves unto either hand, do dexterouſly make uſe of neither."
Common questions
How do you use "ambilevous" in a sentence?
Again, Some are Ἀμφαριστεροὶ as Galen hath expreſſed : that is, Ambilevous or left-handed on both ſides; ſuch as with agility and vigour have not the uſe of either : who are not gymnaſtically compoſed : nor actively uſe thoſe parts. Now in theſe there is no right hand : of this conſtitution are many women, and ſome men, who though they accuſtome themſelves unto either hand, do dexterouſly make uſe of neither.
How do you pronounce "ambilevous"?
Pronounced /ˌæmbɪˈliːvəs/.
Etymology
First attested in English in 1646: from Latin ambilaevus (ambi- (“both”) + laevus (“left”)), a calque of Ancient Greek ἀμφαρίστερος (ampharísteros, “with two left hands, awkward, clumsy”) from ἀμφί (amphí, “on both sides”) + ἀριστερός (aristerós, “left”).