What is "over the left"

Over \O"ver\ ([=o]"v[~e]r), prep. [AS. ofer; akin to D. over, G. ["u]ber, OHG. ubir, ubar, Dan. over, Sw. ["o]fver, Icel. yfir, Goth. ufar, L. super, Gr. "ype`r, Skr. upari. [root]199. Cf. Above, Eaves, Hyper-, Orlop, Super-, Sovereign, Up.]

1. Above, or higher than, in place or position, with the idea of covering; -- opposed to under; as, clouds are over our heads; the smoke rises over the city.

   The mercy seat that is over the testimony.
   --Ex. xxx. 6.

   Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning.
   --Longfellow.

2. Across; from side to side of; -- implying a passing or moving, either above the substance or thing, or on the surface of it; as, a dog leaps over a stream or a table.

   Certain lakes . . . poison birds which fly over them.
   --Bacon.

3. Upon the surface of, or the whole surface of; hither and thither upon; throughout the whole extent of; as, to wander over the earth; to walk over a field, or over a city.

4. Above; -- implying superiority in excellence, dignity, condition, or value; as, the advantages which the Christian world has over the heathen.
   --Swift.

5. Above in authority or station; -- implying government, direction, care, attention, guard, responsibility, etc.; -- opposed to under.

   Thou shalt be over my house.
   --Gen. xli. 40.

   I will make thee rules over many things.
   --Matt. xxv. 23.

   Dost thou not watch over my sin ?
   --Job xiv. 1

6. His tender mercies are over all his works.
   --Ps. cxlv. 9.

   6. Across or during the time of; from beginning to end of; as, to keep anything over night; to keep corn over winter.

7. Above the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea of measurement; as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes.

8. Beyond; in excess of; in addition to; more than; as, it cost over five dollars. ``Over all this.''
   --Chaucer.

9. Above, implying superiority after a contest; in spite of; notwithstanding; as, he triumphed over difficulties; the bill was passed over the veto. Note: Over, in poetry, is often contracted into o'er. Note: Over his signature (or name) is a substitute for the idiomatic English form, under his signature (name, hand and seal, etc.), the reference in the latter form being to the authority under which the writing is made, executed, or published, and not the place of the autograph, etc. Over all (Her.), placed over or upon other bearings, and therefore hinding them in part; -- said of a charge. Over one's head, Over head and ears, beyond one's depth; completely; wholly; hopelessly; as, over head and ears in debt. head over heels

   1. completely; intensely; as, head over heels in love.

   2. in a tumbling manner; as, to fall head over heels down the stairs.

   3. precipitously and without forethought; impulsively.

      Over the left. See under Left.

      To run over (Mach.), to have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; -- said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece.

Left \Left\, a. [OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD. lucht, luft; cf. AS. left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyft[=a]dl palsy; or cf. AS. l[=e]f weak.]

1. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; -- opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the left hand, or arm; the left ear. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.

2. Situated so that the left side of the body is toward it; as, the left side of a deliberative meeting is that to the left of the presiding officer; the left wing of an army is that to the left of the center to one facing an enemy.

   Left bank of a river, that which is on the left hand of a person whose face is turned downstream.

   Left bower. See under 2d Bower.

   Left center, the members whose sympathies are, in the main, with the members of the Left, but who do not favor extreme courses, and on occasions vote with the government. They sit between the Center and the extreme Left.

   Over the left shoulder, or Over the left, an old but still current colloquialism, or slang expression, used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief; as, he said it, and it is true, -- over the left.