Pontifex maximus pointed out that the term existed before there were any bridges in Rome and derived the word from Old Latin "pontis" (sic) meaning a powerful or absolute master, while others derived it from "potis facere" in the sense of "able to sacrifice". The last derivation is mentioned also by Varro, who rejected it, but it was the view of Pontifex Maximus Quintus Scaevola. Others have held that the word was originally "pompifex" (leader of public processions). The word "pons" originally meant "way" and "pontifex" would thus mean "maker of roads and bridges". Another opinion is that the word is a
Bias against left-handed people "left" itself derives from the Anglo-Saxon word "lyft", "weak". In Ancient Greek both words meaning "left" were euphemisms: the word ἀριστερός, "aristerós" (the standard word in Modern Greek as well) is derived from ἂριστος, "áristos", "best", and the word εὺώνυμος, "euōnymos", "of good name", is another euphemism used in lieu of "ill-named". The Latin adjective "sinister/sinistra/sinistrum" originally meant "left" but took on meanings of "evil" or "unlucky" by the Classical Latin era, and this double meaning survives in European derivatives of Latin, and in the English word "sinister". Alternatively, "sinister" comes from the Latin word "sinus" meaning "pocket": a traditional