Ambidexterous

/ˌæmbɪdɛkˈstɛrəs/ adjective

Definition

Able to use both hands with equal skill, or clever and skillful in handling difficult situations.

Etymology

From Latin ambi- (both) + dexter (right), adding the -ous suffix common in English adjectives. The spelling with -ous became the standard English form by the 17th century.

Kelly Says

The word hints at something almost magical—in medieval times, ambidexterous people were sometimes viewed with suspicion because two-handedness was so unusual that people thought they might be supernatural or deceitful.

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