σκαιός

English (LSJ)

ά, όν,

   A left, on the left hand, poet. for ἀριστερός (used by Prose writers in metaph. sense, and once by Pl. in literal sense, Phdr.266a; also in Dor. Prose, ἐν σκαιάν,= ἐς ἀριστεράν, SIG636.22 (Delph., ii B.C.; σκαγαν lapis)); τὸ σ. ὄμμα παραβαλών A.Fr.308 (cf. Ath.7.303c); in Hom. always in dat. σκαιῇ (sc. χειρί), with the left hand, Il.1.501, al.; χειρὶ σ. Hes.Th.179:—hence,    II western, westward (for the Greek diviner always turned his face northward, and so had the West on his left): hence Σκαιαὶ πύλαι the West-gate of Troy, Il.3.145, al., cf. Hsch. (otherwise expld. by Sch. ad loc.); σ. ῥίον either, on the left, or west headland, Od.3.295; σ. λιμήν Orac. ap.D.S.8.21; πόρος D.P.161,481,541.    2 unlucky, ill-omened, mischievous (cf. δεξιός 11), ἡ φιλοτιμίη κτῆμα σ. Hdt.3.53; σεσιγαμένον οὐ σκαιότερον χρῆμ' ἕκαστον a thing is none the worse for remaining unsaid, Pi.O.9.104; σ. ἐκλύσων στόμα about to speak mischief, S.Aj. 1225.    III metaph. of persons, lefthanded, awkward, clumsy, stupid, -ότατος καὶ ἀδικώτατος Hdt.1.129; σ. ἰητροί Hp.Art.42; σκαιοῖσι πολλοῖς εἷς σοφὸς διόλλυται S.Fr.921, cf.771; ὅπου δ' Ἀπόλλων σ. ᾖ, τίνες σοφοί; E.El.972, cf. Heracl.258, HF283; ὦ σκαιὲ κἀπαίδευτε Ar.V.1183, cf. 1266; ἐπιλης μότατον καὶ -ότατον γερόντιον Id.Nu.790; οὕτω σ. ὥστε μαθεῖν οὐ δύνασθαι Lys.10.15, cf. Pl.Euthd.295d; σ. καὶ βάρβαρος τὸν τρόπον D.26.17; σ. καὶ ἀναίσθητος Id.18.120; σ. ἢ ἀνήκοος Id.19.312. Adv., σκαιῶς λέγειν Ar.Ec.644, cf. Pl.60: Comp., Phld.Acad.Ind.p.7 M.    2 of words, thoughts, or actions, -ότατον ἔπος Ar.Av.174, cf. Arist.Rh.Al.1430b7; σ. καινουργία OGI569.18 (Arycanda, iv A.D.).—In these senses σκαιός is opp. to δεξιός (q.v.).    IV aslant, crooked, of serpents, Nic.Th.266; cf. σκοιός. (Prob. σκαιϝός, cf. Lat. scaevus.)