sinister English · revision 135
5 Oct 2026, 22:03 by bogdan “Add pronunciation, sense history, timeline, meanings, word family, related words” current version
Changes in this edit
@@ -1,6 +1,46 @@
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈsɪ.nɪ.stə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɪ.nɪ.stəɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+
==Etymology==
− Recorded from the early 15th century;^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the OED's earliest quotation is from 1411.^(OED 1989) From [[enm|sinistre|t=unfavourable, unlucky]],^(AHD)^(Wiktionary) [[bor|fro|senestre]], ''sinistre'' “left; contrary, unfavourable”,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) [[der|la|sinister|t=on the left side; unlucky, inauspicious]],^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)
+ From [[enm|sinistre|t=unfavourable, unlucky]],^(AHD)^(Wiktionary) [[bor|fro|senestre]], ''sinistre'' “left; contrary, unfavourable”,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) [[der|la|sinister|t=on the left side; unlucky, inauspicious]],^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)
− The “unlucky” sense comes from augury: omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left were taken to portend misfortune.^(Etymonline) Compare [[dexter]].^(Etymonline)
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ Of information or reports, “prompted by malice or ill will; intended to mislead” (early 15th century; the OED's first quotation is from 1411).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The “unlucky” sense comes from augury: omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left were taken to portend misfortune.^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that this reflects Greek practice, in which augurs faced north; in genuine Roman augury they faced south and the left was favourable, so Latin ''sinister'' could also mean “lucky”.^(Etymonline) Of persons, “deceitful” is recorded from the late 15th century;^(Etymonline) the literal sense “on the left side” appears in English from c. 1500,^(Etymonline) and in heraldry from the 1560s.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1411 – of information, “given with intent to mislead; malicious”.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1432 – “prejudicial, unfavourable”, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1455 – of actions, “dishonest, underhand”.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1474 – “corrupt, evil, base”.^(OED 1989)
+ * c. 1500 – “on the left side”.^(Etymonline)
+ * 1560s – in heraldry, “on the bearer's left”.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Suggesting or threatening evil or harm.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # Ominous; foreboding trouble.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ # Evil or wicked.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # On the left side; in heraldry, on the bearer's left side of a shield.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[sinisterly]]
+ * [[sinisterness]]
+ * [[ambisinister]]
+ * [[sinistral]]
+ * [[sinistrous]]
+ * [[unsinister]]
+ * [[bar sinister]]
+ * [[bend sinister]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[dexter]]
+ * [[baleful]]
+ * [[malign]]
+
+ ==Usage notes==
+ ''Sinister'' usually implies impending or lurking danger made felt through ominous signs;^(AHD) ''baleful'' intensifies the sense of menace, suggesting something deadly or poisonous;^(AHD) ''malign'' applies to what shows an evil nature, influence, or intent.^(AHD)
==References==