Ambilevous
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 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
All antonymsExample
More examples"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."
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”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.