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- Dictionarysinister/ˈsɪnɪstə/
adjective
- 1. giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen: "there was something sinister about that murmuring voice" Similar
- 2. of, on, or towards the left-hand side (in a coat of arms, from the bearer's point of view, i.e. the right as it is depicted). archaic
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In time, sinister itself meant evil and threatening. EtymOnline said that sinister attained this meaning in the early 15th century. The OED supports this, writing that the first uses of sinister to mean malicious were: 1474 Rolls of Parl. VI. 110/1 Contynuyn in habundaunce of goodes and havour, to their sinister pleasure.
Jul 3, 2016 · 3. "When cutting meat, use your sinister hand to hold the fork and your dexter hand to hold the knife." – Hot Licks. Jul 3, 2016 at 11:43. "Sinister is an adjective, you are using it as a noun, what do you mean to say?" Now I understand. It cannot be used in this form as it is an adjective.
One of the most interesting questions came from a librarian. She asked whether Dexter's name came from "dexterous", meaning left handed, and "sinister", meaning right handed. Lindsay was stunned, saying it was only the second time he's ever been asked this. She was correct - he said the book's original title was the "Left Hand of God".
May 8, 2015 · 2. From Etymonline: The Latin 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 Greek influence, reflecting the early Greek practice of facing north ...
Jul 29, 2023 · A further break-down of "spook" gives way to the meaning, "ghost, specter" or "an undercover agent: spy." But the Dutch word describing apparitions, which first came into use around the 19th century, took on a more sinister meaning around World War II, when white American soldiers started referring to their Black counterparts as "spooks."
Nov 19, 2014 · This word comes from Latin "sinister," meaning "left" or "on the left side." Over time, the mythologized connection of the left hand to the false or unfavorable came to give "sinister" an association with the unsavory. This does not mean that we cannot use "sinister" to mean "wicked," or that doing so would impugn left-handed people.
Mar 16, 2014 · Not an idiom but you can say a sinister smile. Edit: maybe too simple but: a fake smile, or an empty smile. Edit 2: I just found this online at Yahoo! Answers; I quite like this one: Pan-Am smile > It is named after the airline Pan American World Airways, whose flight attendants would always flash every jet-setter the same, perfunctory smile.
Jul 26, 2022 · "Afoot" has gone from the literal meaning of "on foot" to often being used to refer to plans or schemes (often evil in nature) which are in motion but of which one has no knowledge. It doesn't necessarily have this negative sense, but it often does. Etymonline.com informs us that the origin is "on foot", and hence "in motion".
May 15, 2013 · The meaning of cynical is: Believing that only selfishness motivates human actions; not believing in disinterested points of view; feeling uncertain if something will happen or it is worth the effort spent. Showing contempt for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one's actions. Pessimistic. The meaning of skeptical is: Having/showing ...
Apr 7, 2015 · Plus, sinister is so closely associated with its other possible meaning ("evil, ominous") that it would be distracting to find it used in a technical context. Left and right remain your most unambiguous choices. If needed, you can add "hand" or "side" ("put tab A into slot B on the left side of the assembly").
