Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “dexter” come from?

dexter (Latin) comes from Proto-Italic deksteros, from Proto-Indo-European deḱs(i)-tero-, from Proto-Indo-European deḱs- — right.

dexter (Latin): right , right hand; skillful; fortunate,...

Definitions

  1. right , right hand; skillful; fortunate,...

Ancestry of “dexter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Italicdeksteros—
2Proto-Indo-Europeandeḱs(i)-tero-—
3Proto-Indo-Europeandeḱs-right

Words derived from “dexter”

  • dexterity
  • dexterous
  • dexterously
  • dextrose
  • dexter
  • dextromethorphan
  • dextroamphetamine
  • destrier
  • ambidexterity
  • dextrocardia
  • dextrorotatory
  • dextropropoxyphene
  • ambidexter
  • polydextrose
  • dextrorotation
  • dexterousness
  • dextroversion
  • dextrothyroxine
  • dextrad
  • dextrogyrate
  • dextromoramide
  • dextroglucose
  • indexterity
  • dextrorse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deḱs- →