Ambidextrous: Are you biased?

The Latin prefix ambi- means "both" and appears in several English words. An ambiguous statement is one that can be taken two ways. Ambivalence is the inability to decide which of two possible courses to follow. This prefix also combines with the Latin dexter, "right," to form ambidextrous. It is an example of the prejudice against left-handedness since it assumes that it is an ambidextrous person's left hand that measures up to the facility of the right. One could just as well call a person equally skillful with both hands ambisinstrous, from the Latin sinister, "left," thus suggesting that it is the right hand that is as skillful as the left. This latter root is still another example of the historical bias against, or in this case fear of, left-handedness. A sinister person by today's definition is one who is bad, wicked, or evil.