Chapter Learn by Heart to Left of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Assembly of France, meant the Girondists; it was famous for its orators. In the House of Commons the Opposition occupies the left-hand side of the Speaker. In the Austrian Assembly the democratic party is called The Left.
   Over the left. A way of expressing disbelief, incredulity, or a negative. The allusion is to morganatic marriages (q.v.). When a woman so married claimed to be a wedded wife, she was told that such was the case “over the left.” (See below.)
   Sinister (the left hand), meaning not straightforward, dishonest, is far older than morganatic marriages. The ancient Greek augurs considered all signs seen by them over the left shoulder to be unlucky, and foreboding evil to come, Plutarch, following Plato and Aristotle, gives as the reason, that the west (or left side of the augur) was towards the setting or departing sun.