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sinister

 - 4 dictionary results

sin⋅is⋅ter

  [sin-uh-ster]
Use sinister in a Sentence
–adjective
1. threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous: a sinister remark.
2. bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell: his sinister purposes.
3. unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable: a sinister accident.
4. of or on the left side; left.
5. Heraldry. noting the side of an escutcheon or achievement of arms that is to the left of the bearer (opposed to dexter ).
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L: on the left hand or side, hence unfavorable, injurious

Related forms:
sin⋅is⋅ter⋅ly, adverb
sin⋅is⋅ter⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. inauspicious, portentous. 3. unlucky.

Antonyms:
1. benign. 3. favorable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sinister
sin·is·ter   (sĭn'ĭ-stər)   
adj.  

  1. Suggesting or threatening evil: a sinister smile.

  2. Presaging trouble; ominous: sinister storm clouds.

  3. Attended by or causing disaster or inauspicious circumstances.

  4. On the left side; left.

  5. Heraldry Situated on or being the side of a shield on the wearer's left and the observer's right.


[Middle English sinistre, unfavorable, from Old French, from Latin sinister, on the left, unlucky.]
sin'is·ter·ly adv., sin'is·ter·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives apply to what is indicative of or threatens great harm, disaster, or evil. Sinister usually implies impending or lurking danger that makes its presence felt by ominous signs or portents: We heard a sinister laugh from behind the door.
Baleful intensifies the sense of menace; it suggests a deadly, virulent, or poisonous quality: The guard's baleful glare frightened the children.
Malign applies to what manifests an evil disposition, nature, influence, or intent: "The Devil . . . with jealous leer malign/Eyed them askance" (John Milton).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

sinister 
1411, "prompted by malice or ill-will," from O.Fr. sinistre "contrary, unfavorable, to the left," from L. sinister "left, on the left side" (opposite of dexter), perhaps from base *sen- and meaning prop. "the slower or weaker hand" [Tucker], but Buck suggests it's a euphemism (see left), connected with the root of Skt. saniyan "more useful, more advantageous." The L. word was used in augury in the sense of "unlucky, unfavorable" (omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left hand were regarded as portending misfortune), and thus sinister acquired a sense of "harmful, unfavorable, adverse." This was from Gk. influence, reflecting the early Gk. practice of facing north when observing omens; in genuine Roman auspices, the left was favorable. Bend (not "bar") sinister in heraldry indicates illegitimacy and preserves the lit. sense of "on the left side."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

sinister sin·is·ter (sĭn'ĭ-stər)
adj.

  1. Presaging trouble; ominous.

  2. On the left side; left.

sin'is·ter·ly adv.
sin'is·ter·ness n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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