what is the meaning of sinister?

Answer 1

It comes from the Latin "sinestra," meaning left handed. In ancient times to be left handed was considered almost evil.

Answer 2

Etymology: From Latin sinister "left hand".

3 meanings:
Evil, seeming to be evil.
Of the left side.
(heraldry): The left side of a shield from the wearer's standpoint, and the right side to the viewer.


Other meanings for sinister:
Bar sinister is a phrase used by writers of fiction to represent bastardy in armorial terms. Strictly speaking, no such phrase exists in medieval or modern armory, but the phrase has entered the popular culture and continues to be used by authors; it appears to have been coined by Sir Walter Scott.

In heraldry, there exists a charge called the baton sinister, which has been used in the past to denote illegitimacy. This can be seen in the arms of the Duke of Grafton who is a descendant of an illegitimate son of King Charles II of England). Today, the College of Arms in England uses a bordure wavy to mark an armiger as illegitimate. The Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland uses a bordure gobony to denote the same.

A Bar Sinister may also refer to a symbol commonly used in signs, most commonly No Smoking signs. In its modern form it is a red circle with a diagonal line through it from the top-left to the bottom-right corners. It means "no [whatever the symbol is placed on top of]."

Answer 3

sin·is·ter Pronunciation (sn-str)
adj.
1. Suggesting or threatening evil: a sinister smile.
2. Presaging trouble; ominous: sinister storm clouds.
3. Attended by or causing disaster or inauspicious circumstances.
4. On the left side; left.
5. Heraldry Situated on or being the side of a shield on the wearer's left and the observer's right.
[Middle English sinistre, unfavorable, from Old French, from Latin sinister, on the left, unlucky.]

Answer 4

sin‧is‧ter 
–adjective 1. threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous: a sinister remark.
2. bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell: his sinister purposes.
3. unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable: a sinister accident.
4. of or on the left side; left.
5. Heraldry. noting the side of an escutcheon or achievement of arms that is to the left of the bearer

Answer 5

Is derives from Latin - meaning left.
Many years ago left handed people were regarded with great suspicion and often regarded as 'witches' because most people are right handed (remind you of any current prejudices?) and this is how the link between sinister and evil, originated.
Similarly, if you are described as dextrous (from the latin dexter, meaning right) you are skilled with your hands - a positive connotation, since right handed = normal.

Answer 6

Left

Answer 7

Sinister means pertaining to the left side of something, for example the devil sat on the left side of God until he became the fallen angel, this is why left-handed people were considered to be evil according to Catholics. It also means evil.

Answer 8

I am left handed therefore I am sinister .
To take pleasure in deriving , or hearing of harm to another .
Also everything Mancunian said above me .

Answer 9

A sinister is a female sibling who is not very well behaved.

Answer 10

evil or with bad intentions.
Example: His sinister motives were the cause of the divorce.