different between dextrous vs ambidexterity

English

Etymology

See dexterous.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?kst??s

Adjective

dextrous (comparative more dextrous, superlative most dextrous)

1. (chiefly Britain) Alternative spelling of dexterous.
   • 1754, Sarah Fielding, Jane Collier, The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable, Volume 1, page 189,

     The man, who with his right hand (or indeed with either, hand that by habit is the mo?t dextrous) endeavours to help and a??i?t another, exerts his whole ?trength, and is generally enabled to compa?s his friendly de?ign; or if a blow is nece??ary to be given, the dextrous hand hits the desired mark, and gives ju?t the force de?igned; whereas a blow given through pa??ion, with the aukwardne?s of a weak-handed ?troke, may beat out an eye, flatten a no?e, or indeed aiming at an enemy may ?ometimes hit a friend.

   • 1788, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 5, page 471,

     Yet the ?ubjects of the Byzantine empire were ?till the mo?t dextrous and diligent of nations;

   • 1979, Donald E. Worcester, The Apaches: Eagles of the Southwest, University of Oklahoma Press, page 53,

     " […] She was renowned as one of the most dextrous horse thieves and horse breakers in the tribe, and seldom permitted an expedition to go on a raid without her presence. The translation of her Apache title was ‘Dextrous Horse Thief’."

   • 1992, Richard A. Gabriel, The Culture of War: Invention and Early Development, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 1,

     Its fingers are longer, more flexible, and more dextrous than those of monkeys and can be moved individually.

English

Etymology

Dating from the 17th century C.E.; ambidexter +? -ity, from Medieval Latin adjective ambidexter (“utilising both hands normally”), from Latin ambi- + dexter (“right, handy, opportune”).

Noun

ambidexterity (uncountable)

1. The property of being equally skillful with each hand.
2. Superior cleverness or adaptability.

Related terms

• ambidextrous
• dexter
• dexterity
• dextrous

Translations

See also

• sinister

Further reading

• ambidexterity on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “ambidexterity”, in Online Etymology Dictionary