Lewis & Short

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dexter, tĕra, tĕrum, and more freq. tra, trum (dat. plur. fem.: dextrabus manibus, Liv. Andron. ap. Non. 493, 20.
Comp. dextĕrĭor; sup. dextĭmus), adj. [dex-ter, root dek-, Gr. δέκομαι, whence δάκτυλος, digitus; cf. Germ. Finger, from fangen; cf. also Sanscr. dakshinas, on the right hand, and Gr. δεξ-ιός], to the right, on the right side, right (opp. laevus, sinister).

  1. I. Prop.: ut ante oculos fuerit qui dexter hic idem nunc sit laevus, Lucr. 4, 302: manus, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 49; 50; id. Capt. 2, 3, 82; Cic. Div. 1, 23, 46: pars membrorum (opp. laeva), Lucr. 4, 293: umeri, Caes. B. G. 7, 50, 2: latus, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 6; Ov. M. 13, 730 et saep.: cornu, Ter. Eun. 4, 7, 5; Caes. B. G. 1, 52, 2; 2, 23, 4 et saep.: ala, Liv. 31, 21: acies, id. 27, 48 et saep.: dextrarum tibiarum genus est, quae dextra tenentur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 74, 5 Müll. et saep.: dextra ejus (fluminis) accolunt Deximontani, Plin. 6, 23, 26, § 99.
    Comp. in signification = dexter, but spoken of two only: in dexteriore parte, opp. sinisteriore, Varr. L. L. 9, § 34 Müll.; so, pars, opp. laeva, Ov. M. 7, 241: rota, opp. sinisterior, id. ib. 2, 138: armus, id. ib. 12, 303: umerus, Suet. Claud. 7: latus, id. Galb. 21: cornu, Galba ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 30, 3 et saep.
    Sup.: dextimus, a, um, an ancient and rare form, in signif. i. q. dexter: dextima via, Varr. ap. Non. 94, 30: apud dextimos, Sall. J. 100, 2.
  2. II. Trop. (perh. not in ante-Aug. prose).
      1. 1. Handy, dexterous, skilful; opportune, proper, suitable, fitting: rem ita dexter egit, ut, etc., Liv. 8, 36: et Marius scriptis dexter in omne genus, Ov. Pont. 4, 16, 24: quis rebus dexter modus, Verg. A. 4, 294: tempus, Hor. S. 2, 1, 18.
      2. 2. (Since the Greeks regarded an omen on the right as favorable) favorable, propitious, fortunate: dextra auspicia prospera, Paul. ex Fest. p. 74, 4 Müll.; cf. omen, Val. Fl. 1, 245: dexter adi, Verg. A. 8, 302; cf.: dexter ac volens assit (numen), Quint. 4 prooem. 5: Jove, Pers. 5, 114: sidere, Stat. S. 3, 4, 63 et saep.
        Hence,

1. dextĕra or dextra, ae, f. (as in most langg.; cf. Gr. δεξιά, Germ. die Rechte, etc.; sc. manus), the right hand (freq. a sign of greeting, of fidelity; a symbol of strength, courage, etc.).

  1. A. Prop.: cedo sis dexteram, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 102; Ter. Heaut. 3, 1, 84: quod ego te per hanc dextram oro, id. And. 1, 5, 54; cf.: per dexteram te istam oro, quam, etc., Cic. Deiot. 3; cf. also Sall. J. 10, 3; Hor. Ep. 1, 7, 94 al.; and: dexterae, quae fidei testes esse solebant, Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 5: fidem more Persarum dextra dare, Nep. Dat. 10, 1: vos libertatem atque patriam in dextris vostris portare, Sall. C. 58, 8; cf. Verg. A. 2, 291; Hor. Epod. 7, 10; Ov. M. 13, 176; Sil. 1, 77 et saep.: miserat civitas Lingonum vetere instituto dona legionibus dextras, hospitii insigne, a pair of hands clasped in each other, made of gold, silver, etc., Tac. H. 1, 54; cf. id. ib. 2, 8 (so in Gr. δεξιὰν πέμπειν and φέρειν).
    Prov.: dextra tenet calamum; strictum tenet altera ferrum, Ov. H. 11, 3.
    1. 2. Transf.
      1. a. The right side: picus et cornix est ab laeva, corvus porro ab dextera, Plaut. As. 2, 1, 12; cf. Cic. Div. 1, 39, 85: ab dextera, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 89; id. Mil. 3, 1, 13; Ter. And. 4, 3, 19; Sall. C. 59, 2; Ov. M. 2, 5 al.: ilico equites jubet dextera inducere, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 88; so, dexterā, id. ib. 177; Caes. B. C. 2, 15, 3; Sall. J. 101, 9; Liv. 21, 43 et saep.: specta ad dexteram, Plaut. Poen. 3, 4, 1; so, ad dexteram, id. Rud. 1, 2, 67; Ter. And. 4, 4, 12; Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22 fin.; Cic. Univ. 13; Caes. B. C. 1, 69, 3 et saep.
      2. b. Poet., the hand, in gen.: omne sacrum rapiente dextra, Hor. Od. 3, 3, 52; id. S. 2, 1, 54.
  2. B. Trop., pledge of friendship: renovare dextras, Tac. A. 2, 58; cf.: Graecia tendit dexteram Italiae suumque ei praesidium pollicetur, Cic. Phil. 10, 4, 9: nec veriti dominorum fallere dextras, Verg. A. 6, 613; cf. id. ib. 3, 610; Nep. Dat. 10, 1; Just. 11, 15, 13: ne fas, fidem, dextras, deos testes fallat, Liv. 29, 24.