Usually people use archaisms in their speech in order to add to the statement of irony or to pretend to be important. Some clever people, however, use such words, the meaning of which is only dimly guessed. For example, it’s very fashionable to say “I have experienced cognitive dissonance” or “thought spreads over the tree”, although some comrades are in such a hurry to shine with their minds that they don’t specify the meaning of these phrases in advance, but in the end they look very silly when they try to use them inappropriate moment.
Popular archaism
One of the popular archaic words is also “right hand”. This word is still heard, and its meaning is understandable almost intuitively. Of course, if you use such a word in a normal conversation with your comrades, it will be regarded as a joke, and if we say about the right hand from the stage, the performance will be painted with some charm. So what does the right hand mean?
Meaning of the word. Common misconceptions
What does the right hand mean? Many mistakenly believe that they know the answer to this question. Before embarking on an interpretation, one should immediately stipulate that the right hand is something completely unrelated to the gums, teeth, or the oral cavity, as it might seem, based on the root of the word. Similarly, the word "loins" has nothing to do with the stomach or internal organs, although the "womb" here begs. In fact, the right hand is just the right hand. In the Old Slavonic language, the word "gingival" meant "right", "on the right side", hence the word "right hand". This word is known largely due to the expression “punishing right hand”, which means “retribution”, “retribution”. In a broader sense, the term also meant simply a hand.
From this word the Old Slavonic “right hand” is formed, which means the same as “gingival”. Now these words are no longer there, they are completely obsolete and replaced by modern ones, so it is difficult for an unknowing person to immediately determine what they mean.
Right hand in famous works
Some writers used this Old Slavonic word in their creations. For example, A. S. Pushkin in the poem "Kolna (Imitation of Ossian)" has the following lines: "The sharp sword on the thigh shines, // Spear arms right hand". Alexander Sergeevich used these words to describe the warrior, in order to emphasize the significance of the moment and give the scene an appropriate atmosphere. Also in his poem “The Lord, preparing me for battle”, this word is used by A. K. Tolstoy: “Love and anger put into my chest, // And to me with my right hand // He showed the right path.”
Now modern authors, who know
what the right hand is, also sometimes use this word if they want to emphasize the solemnity of the style or simply bring it closer to the archaic. However, most often, the “right hand” in modern literature will be used and perceived with a share of irony. If a young author wants to endow his character with remarkable strength and seriousness, the use of the word “right hand” in his description will destroy the whole picture or somewhat puzzle the reader.
In religion
Literature and ironic remarks are not the only area where the word “right hand” can be used. The meaning of this term allows it to appear both in iconography and in religion in general. For example, the right hand of God in Orthodoxy is a kind of symbol of the protection of the Almighty to righteous Christians. Sometimes God's right hand is portrayed along with the saved souls of children. These paintings usually illustrate subjects on the topic of the Last Judgment, and children are considered righteous because of their age (they have not had time to sin yet). Also, some Christian religions venerate their right hands as relics. The best example is the right hand of John the Baptist.