Sinister
/ˈsɪn.ɪ.stər/noun
Having an evil or malevolent quality; suggesting something harmful or ominous.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, augurs interpreted the left side as a bad omen, leading to the association of 'sinister' with misfortune and malevolence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sinister
“left, on the left side, unlucky”
Latin
Latin
sinister
“left, unfavorable, of ill omen”
Old French
Old French
sinistre
“unlucky, evil, harmful”
Middle English
Middle English
sinistre
“evil, ill-omened, morally wrong”
Modern English
English
sinister
“characterized by evil or harm; suggesting a harmful presence”