ambidextrous: [16] Ambidextrous means literally ‘right-handed on both sides’. It was formed in Latin from the prefix ambi- ‘both’ and the adjective dexter ‘right-handed’ (source of English dextrous). Ambi- corresponds to the Latin adjective ambo ‘both’, which derived ultimately from the Indo-European base *amb- ‘around’ (an element in the source of ambassador and embassy).
The second element in Latin ambo seems to correspond to Old English ba ‘both’, which is related to modern English both. Other English words formed with the prefix amb(i)- include ambient [16] (which came, like ambition, from Latin ambīre ‘go round’), ambit [16] (from Latin ambitus ‘circuit’), ambiguous, ambition, amble, and ambulance. => dextrous
ambidextrous (adj.)
1640s, with -ous, from ambidexter (adj.) "double-dealing" (1610s), from French ambidextre or directly from Latin ambidexter, literally "right-handed on both sides," from ambi- "both" (see ambi-) + dexter "right-handed" (see dexterity). Its opposite, ambilevous "left-handed on both sides, clumsy" (1640s) is rare. Ambidexter as a noun, "one who takes bribes from both sides," is attested from 1530s and is the earliest form of the word in English; its sense of "one who uses both hands equally well" appears by 1590s.
实用例句
1. Jack is an ambidextrous hitter; he can bat right - handed or left - handed.
杰克是一位双手都很灵巧的打击手; 他可以用右手或左手打击.
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2. A switch - hitter in baseball should be naturally ambidextrous.
一个开关在棒球击球手应自然怀有二心的.
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3. I'm neither left - handed nor right - handed; I'm ambidextrous.
我不是只用左手或右手, 我是双手并用.
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4. All are 15 - shot pistols. All Ruger P 89 pistols feature an ambidextrous magazine release button.
该系列均为15发射击手枪, 其特点是装有左右手都可以灵活运用的弹匣释放按钮.
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5. Use your mouse with your left or right hand - ambidextrous design makes it comfortable either way.
