Levorotatory
/ˌlɛv.əˈroʊ.təˌtɔːr.i/noun
Referring to a substance that rotates the plane of polarized light to the left.
Did you know?In the mystical world of chemistry, levorotatory compounds are considered 'left-handed', echoing the ancient belief that leftness often signifies the hidden or the magical.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
laevus
“left; unfavorable, awkward”
Late Latin
Late Latin
levorotatorius
“pertaining to left-turning, specifically in the context of light”
19th Century
English
levorotatory
“coined to describe the optical activity of certain compounds in chemistry, particularly their effect on polarized light”
Modern English
English
levorotatory
“used in scientific contexts to denote substances that rotate polarized light to the left”