SINISTER


Meaning of SINISTER in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈsi-nəs-tər, archaic ]

sə-ˈnis- adjective

Etymology: Middle English sinistre, from Anglo-French senestre on the left, from Latin sinistr-, sinister on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious

Date: 15th century

1. archaic : unfavorable , unlucky

2. archaic : fraudulent

3. : singularly evil or productive of evil

4.

a. : of, relating to, or situated to the left or on the left side of something ; especially : being or relating to the side of a heraldic shield at the left of the person bearing it

b. : of ill omen by reason of being on the left

5. : presaging ill fortune or trouble

6. : accompanied by or leading to disaster

• sin·is·ter·ly adverb

• sin·is·ter·ness noun

Synonyms:

sinister , baleful , malign mean seriously threatening evil or disaster. sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer

a sinister aura haunts the place

baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly

exerting a corrupt and baleful influence

malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful

the malign effects of racism

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.