sinister

• adj. 陰險的；凶兆的；災難性的；左邊的

來自古法語 sinistre,向左的，不利的，來自拉丁語 sinister,左邊。詞義演變來自“左”在古代 與邪惡，凶惡相聯係的隱含義。比較 dextrose,右旋糖，dexterity,靈巧，靈活。

sinister

sinister: see left

sinister (adj.)

early 15c., "prompted by malice or ill-will, intending to mislead," from Old French senestre, sinistre "contrary, false; unfavorable; to the left" (14c.), from Latin sinister "left, on the left side" (opposite of dexter), of uncertain origin. Perhaps meaning properly "the slower or weaker hand" [Tucker], but Klein and Buck suggest it's a euphemism (see left (adj.)) connected with the root of Sanskrit saniyan "more useful, more advantageous." With contrastive or comparative suffix -ter, as in dexter (see dexterity).

The Latin word was used in augury in the sense of "unlucky, unfavorable" (omens, especially bird flights, seen on the left hand were regarded as portending misfortune), and thus sinister acquired a sense of "harmful, unfavorable, adverse." This was from Greek influence, reflecting the early Greek practice of facing north when observing omens. In genuine Roman auspices, the augurs faced south and left was favorable. Thus sinister also retained a secondary sense in Latin of "favorable, auspicious, fortunate, lucky."

Meaning "evil" is from late 15c. Used in heraldry from 1560s to indicate "left, to the left." Bend (not "bar") sinister in heraldry indicates illegitimacy and preserves the literal sense of "on or from the left side" (though in heraldry this is from the view of the bearer of the shield, not the observer of it).

1. There is nothing sinister or conspiratorial about the export licensing system.

這種出口許可製度沒有任何陰險或者見不得人的東西。

來自柯林斯例句

2. There was something sinister about him that she found disturbing.

他身上有種邪惡的東西讓她很不安。

來自柯林斯例句

3. There was something cold and sinister about him.

他給人一種冷酷陰險的感覺。

來自《權威詞典》

4. There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.

在這一係列罪行背後有險惡的陰謀.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》

5. In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design.

在你的談話中,你提到了某個陰謀.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》