01 a. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter, or right.
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1.
On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to dexter, or right.“My mother's blood Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister Bounds in my father's” — Shak.
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2.
Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; -- the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences.“All the several ills that visit earth, Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth.” — B. Jonson.
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3.
Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims.“Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts.” — Bacon.“He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts.” — South.“He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself.” — Sir W. Scott.
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4.
Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance.
Phrases & compounds
Sinister aspect —
an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini.
Sinister base —
See under Escutcheon.