sinister

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnɪstə/

adjective

  • 1giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen: there was something sinister about that murmuring voice
  • evil or criminal: there might be a more sinister motive behind the government’s actions
  • 2 [attributive] archaic & Heraldry of, on, or towards the left-hand side (in a coat of arms, from the bearer’s point of view, i.e. the right as it is depicted). The opposite of dexter1.

Derivatives

sinisterly

adverb

sinisterness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'malicious, underhand'): from Old French sinistre or Latin sinister 'left'