"sinister" meaning in English

See sinister in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈsɪnɪstə/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈsɪnɪstɚ/ [US] Audio: en-us-sinister.ogg [US], en-au-sinister.ogg [Australia] Forms: more sinister [comparative], most sinister [superlative]
Etymology: From Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”), from Old French senestre, sinistre (“left”), from Latin sinister (“left hand”). Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|sinistre|t=unlucky}} Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”), {{der|en|fro|senestre}} Old French senestre, {{m|fro|sinistre|t=left}} sinistre (“left”), {{der|en|la|sinister|t=left hand}} Latin sinister (“left hand”) Head templates: {{en-adj}} sinister (comparative more sinister, superlative most sinister)
  1. Inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister). Translations (ominous): ἀπαίσιος (apaísios) (Ancient Greek), зловещ (zlovešt) (Bulgarian), злокобен (zlokoben) (Bulgarian), sinistre (Catalan), zlověstný [masculine] (Czech), pahaenteinen (Finnish), uhkaava (Finnish), sinistre [feminine, masculine] (French), sinister (German), 左前の (hidarimae no) (Japanese), зло́кобен (zlókoben) (Macedonian), گجسته (gojaste) (Persian), dreiwent (Plautdietsch), złowrogi [masculine] (Polish), złowieszczy [masculine] (Polish), arcygroźny (Polish), sinistro (Portuguese), злове́щий (zlovéščij) (Russian), злополу́чный (zlopolúčnyj) (Russian)
    Sense id: en-sinister-en-adj-ntU-qwJ0 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 45 16 4 28 8 Disambiguation of 'ominous': 99 0 0 0 1
  2. Evil or seemingly evil; indicating lurking danger or harm. Translations (evil): شَرِير (šarīr) [masculine] (Arabic), зъл (zǎl) (Bulgarian), zlý [masculine] (Czech), hrozivý [masculine] (Czech), paha (Finnish), sinistre [feminine, masculine] (French), böse (German), sinister (German), מרושע (merusha) [masculine] (Hebrew), רשע (rasha) [masculine] (Hebrew), sinistro [masculine] (Italian), 悪い (warui) (Japanese), 奸な (yokoshima na) (Japanese), залым (zalym) (Kazakh), зло́бен (zlóben) (Macedonian), зол (zol) (Macedonian), jahat (Malay), złowrogi [masculine] (Polish), arcygroźny (Polish), sinistro (Portuguese), sinistru (Romanian), злой (zloj) (Russian), siniestro (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-sinister-en-adj-GM8YJw8e Disambiguation of 'evil': 0 100 0 0 0
  3. (archaic) Of the left side. Tags: archaic Translations (of the left): отляво (otljavo) (Bulgarian), levý [masculine] (Czech), vasemmanpuolinen (Finnish), sinister (German), links (German), linksseitig (German), clé (Irish), sinistra [feminine] (Italian), 左の (hidari no) (Japanese), sinistro (Portuguese), sestro (Portuguese), esquerdo (Portuguese), находя́щийся сле́ва (naxodjáščijsja sléva) (Russian), siniestro (Spanish), ఎడమ (eḍama) (Telugu)
    Sense id: en-sinister-en-adj-prSvVTuq Disambiguation of 'of the left': 0 0 75 25 0
  4. (heraldry) On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer. Categories (topical): Heraldry Translations (heraldic "left"): ляв (ljav) (Bulgarian), sinister (Danish), heraldisk venstre (Danish), vasen (Finnish), vasta- (Finnish), sénestre (French), linker [masculine] (German), sinistra (Italian), siniestro (Spanish), izquierdo (Spanish), sinister (Swedish), vänster (Swedish)
    Sense id: en-sinister-en-adj-A2nIvhs0 Topics: government, heraldry, hobbies, lifestyle, monarchy, nobility, politics Disambiguation of 'heraldic "left"': 27 8 20 44 2
  5. (obsolete) Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest. Tags: obsolete
    Sense id: en-sinister-en-adj-EpE3Gndn
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms: sinistre [obsolete] Derived forms: bar sinister, baton sinister, bend sinister, sinister aspect, sinister base, sinister chief, sinistral

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for sinister meaning in English (12.7kB)

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "bar sinister"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "baton sinister"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "bend sinister"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sinister aspect"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sinister base"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sinister chief"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "sinistral"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "sinistre",
        "t": "unlucky"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "senestre"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French senestre",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "sinistre",
        "t": "left"
      },
      "expansion": "sinistre (“left”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "sinister",
        "t": "left hand"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin sinister (“left hand”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”), from Old French senestre, sinistre (“left”), from Latin sinister (“left hand”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more sinister",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most sinister",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "sinister (comparative more sinister, superlative most sinister)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "45 16 4 28 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1922, Michael Arlen, “1/5/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days",
          "text": "And in the meanwhile, Society shivered a little feverishly, filled now with the scions of those who had come over with the Jewish and American Conquests. Escutcheons were becoming valueless, how sinister soever the blots and clots upon them.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister)."
      ],
      "id": "en-sinister-en-adj-ntU-qwJ0",
      "links": [
        [
          "Inauspicious",
          "inauspicious"
        ],
        [
          "ominous",
          "ominous"
        ],
        [
          "unlucky",
          "unlucky"
        ],
        [
          "illegitimate",
          "illegitimate"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "zlovešt",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "зловещ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "zlokoben",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "злокобен"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "sinistre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "zlověstný"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "pahaenteinen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "uhkaava"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sinistre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "apaísios",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "ἀπαίσιος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "hidarimae no",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "左前の"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "zlókoben",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "зло́кобен"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "roman": "gojaste",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "گجسته"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "pdt",
          "lang": "Plautdietsch",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "dreiwent"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "złowrogi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "złowieszczy"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "arcygroźny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "sinistro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zlovéščij",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "злове́щий"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "99 0 0 0 1",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zlopolúčnyj",
          "sense": "ominous",
          "word": "злополу́чный"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "sinister influences",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "the sinister atmosphere of the crypt",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Evil or seemingly evil; indicating lurking danger or harm."
      ],
      "id": "en-sinister-en-adj-GM8YJw8e",
      "links": [
        [
          "Evil",
          "evil"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "šarīr",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "شَرِير"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "zǎl",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "зъл"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "zlý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "hrozivý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "paha"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sinistre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "böse"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "merusha",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "מרושע"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "rasha",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "רשע"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sinistro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "warui",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "悪い"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "yokoshima na",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "奸な"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "kk",
          "lang": "Kazakh",
          "roman": "zalym",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "залым"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "zlóben",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "зло́бен"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "zol",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "зол"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "jahat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "evil",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "złowrogi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "arcygroźny"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "sinistro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "sinistru"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zloj",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "злой"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100 0 0 0",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "evil",
          "word": "siniestro"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "dexter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1911, Saki, ‘The Unrest-Cure’, The Chronicles of Clovis",
          "text": "Before the train had stopped he had decorated his sinister shirt-cuff with the inscription, ‘J. P. Huddle, The Warren, Tilfield, near Slowborough.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of the left side."
      ],
      "id": "en-sinister-en-adj-prSvVTuq",
      "links": [
        [
          "left",
          "left"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Of the left side."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "otljavo",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "отляво"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "levý"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "vasemmanpuolinen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "links"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "linksseitig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "clé"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "sinistra"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "hidari no",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "左の"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "sinistro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "sestro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "esquerdo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "naxodjáščijsja sléva",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "находя́щийся сле́ва"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "siniestro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 75 25 0",
          "code": "te",
          "lang": "Telugu",
          "roman": "eḍama",
          "sense": "of the left",
          "word": "ఎడమ"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "dexter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Heraldry",
          "orig": "en:Heraldry",
          "parents": [
            "History",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer."
      ],
      "id": "en-sinister-en-adj-A2nIvhs0",
      "links": [
        [
          "heraldry",
          "heraldry"
        ],
        [
          "left",
          "left"
        ],
        [
          "shield",
          "shield"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(heraldry) On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "heraldry",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "monarchy",
        "nobility",
        "politics"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "ljav",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "ляв"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "heraldisk venstre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "vasen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "vasta-"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "sénestre"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "linker"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "sinistra"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "siniestro"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "izquierdo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "sinister"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "27 8 20 44 2",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
          "word": "vänster"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1667, Robert South, The Practice of Religion Enforced by Reason",
          "text": "He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest."
      ],
      "id": "en-sinister-en-adj-EpE3Gndn",
      "links": [
        [
          "Wrong",
          "wrong"
        ],
        [
          "indirection",
          "indirection"
        ],
        [
          "obliquity",
          "obliquity"
        ],
        [
          "perverse",
          "perverse"
        ],
        [
          "dishonest",
          "dishonest"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪnɪstə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪnɪstɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-sinister.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/59/En-us-sinister.ogg/En-us-sinister.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/En-us-sinister.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-sinister.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/En-au-sinister.ogg/En-au-sinister.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/En-au-sinister.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "sinistre"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "sinister"
  ],
  "word": "sinister"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English 3-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old French",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "la:Directions"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "bar sinister"
    },
    {
      "word": "baton sinister"
    },
    {
      "word": "bend sinister"
    },
    {
      "word": "sinister aspect"
    },
    {
      "word": "sinister base"
    },
    {
      "word": "sinister chief"
    },
    {
      "word": "sinistral"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "sinistre",
        "t": "unlucky"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”)",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "senestre"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French senestre",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fro",
        "2": "sinistre",
        "t": "left"
      },
      "expansion": "sinistre (“left”)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "sinister",
        "t": "left hand"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin sinister (“left hand”)",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English sinistre (“unlucky”), from Old French senestre, sinistre (“left”), from Latin sinister (“left hand”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more sinister",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most sinister",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "sinister (comparative more sinister, superlative most sinister)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1922, Michael Arlen, “1/5/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days",
          "text": "And in the meanwhile, Society shivered a little feverishly, filled now with the scions of those who had come over with the Jewish and American Conquests. Escutcheons were becoming valueless, how sinister soever the blots and clots upon them.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Inauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate (as in bar sinister)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Inauspicious",
          "inauspicious"
        ],
        [
          "ominous",
          "ominous"
        ],
        [
          "unlucky",
          "unlucky"
        ],
        [
          "illegitimate",
          "illegitimate"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "sinister influences",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "the sinister atmosphere of the crypt",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Evil or seemingly evil; indicating lurking danger or harm."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Evil",
          "evil"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "dexter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with archaic senses",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1911, Saki, ‘The Unrest-Cure’, The Chronicles of Clovis",
          "text": "Before the train had stopped he had decorated his sinister shirt-cuff with the inscription, ‘J. P. Huddle, The Warren, Tilfield, near Slowborough.’",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of the left side."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "left",
          "left"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(archaic) Of the left side."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "dexter"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "en:Heraldry"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "heraldry",
          "heraldry"
        ],
        [
          "left",
          "left"
        ],
        [
          "shield",
          "shield"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(heraldry) On the left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "heraldry",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "monarchy",
        "nobility",
        "politics"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with obsolete senses",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1667, Robert South, The Practice of Religion Enforced by Reason",
          "text": "He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Wrong",
          "wrong"
        ],
        [
          "indirection",
          "indirection"
        ],
        [
          "obliquity",
          "obliquity"
        ],
        [
          "perverse",
          "perverse"
        ],
        [
          "dishonest",
          "dishonest"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete) Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪnɪstə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈsɪnɪstɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-sinister.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/59/En-us-sinister.ogg/En-us-sinister.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/En-us-sinister.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (US)"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-sinister.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/61/En-au-sinister.ogg/En-au-sinister.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/En-au-sinister.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "obsolete"
      ],
      "word": "sinistre"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "zlovešt",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "зловещ"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "zlokoben",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "злокобен"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "sinistre"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "zlověstný"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "pahaenteinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "uhkaava"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sinistre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "sinister"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "apaísios",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "ἀπαίσιος"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "hidarimae no",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "左前の"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "zlókoben",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "зло́кобен"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "roman": "gojaste",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "گجسته"
    },
    {
      "code": "pdt",
      "lang": "Plautdietsch",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "dreiwent"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "złowrogi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "złowieszczy"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "arcygroźny"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "sinistro"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zlovéščij",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "злове́щий"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zlopolúčnyj",
      "sense": "ominous",
      "word": "злополу́чный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "šarīr",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "شَرِير"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "zǎl",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "зъл"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "zlý"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "hrozivý"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "paha"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sinistre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "böse"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "sinister"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "merusha",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "מרושע"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "rasha",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "רשע"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sinistro"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "warui",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "悪い"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "yokoshima na",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "奸な"
    },
    {
      "code": "kk",
      "lang": "Kazakh",
      "roman": "zalym",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "залым"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "zlóben",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "зло́бен"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "zol",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "зол"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "jahat"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "evil",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "złowrogi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "arcygroźny"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "sinistro"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "sinistru"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zloj",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "злой"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "evil",
      "word": "siniestro"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "otljavo",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "отляво"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "levý"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "vasemmanpuolinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "sinister"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "links"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "linksseitig"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "clé"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "sinistra"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "hidari no",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "左の"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "sinistro"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "sestro"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "esquerdo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "naxodjáščijsja sléva",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "находя́щийся сле́ва"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "siniestro"
    },
    {
      "code": "te",
      "lang": "Telugu",
      "roman": "eḍama",
      "sense": "of the left",
      "word": "ఎడమ"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "ljav",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "ляв"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "sinister"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "heraldisk venstre"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "vasen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "vasta-"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "sénestre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "linker"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "sinistra"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "siniestro"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "izquierdo"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "sinister"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "heraldic \"left\"",
      "word": "vänster"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "sinister"
  ],
  "word": "sinister"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.