left parenthesis "(". character 40. Common names: left paren; left parenthesis; left; ; paren (")" = thesis); open paren; open parenthesis; left parenthesis; left banana. Rare: so (")" = already); lparen; : opening parenthesis; open round bracket, left round bracket, : wax (")" = wane); parenthisey (")" = unparenthisey); left ear. Paired with (")"). (1995-03-06)