left bank of a river

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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   {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.
      [1913 Webster]