Sinister



GRE Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj.不吉祥的; 险恶的
• ［英］ adj.不吉祥的 ( presaging ill fortune) ; 险恶的 ( singularly evil)
• ［记］ sinist ( 左边的) ＋er, 罗马占卜时, 视左侧出现的征兆为不吉祥
• ［同］ 同根词: sinistral ( 左边的) ;sinistrorse ( 左旋的)

Webster Collegiate

adjective

• Etymology: Middle English sinistre, from Anglo-French senestre on the left, from Latin sinistr-, sinister on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious
• Date: 15th century
• 1. archaic unfavorable, unlucky
• 2. archaic fraudulent
• 3. singularly evil or productive of evil
• 4.
  • a. of, relating to, or situated to the left or on the left side of something; especially being or relating to the side of a heraldic shield at the left of the person bearing it
  • b. of ill omen by reason of being on the left
• 5. presaging ill fortune or trouble
• 6. accompanied by or leading to disaster
• ? sinisterly adverb
• ? sinisterness noun
• Synonyms:
  • sinister, baleful, malign mean seriously threatening evil or disaster. sinister suggests a general or vague feeling of fear or apprehension on the part of the observer <a sinister aura haunts the place>. baleful imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly<exerting a corrupt and baleful influence>. malign applies to what is inherently evil or harmful<the malign effects of racism>.

---