Bar sinister

Bar sinister
Sinister Sin"is*ter (s[i^]n"[i^]s*t[~e]r; 277), a.

Note: [Accented on the middle syllable by the older poets, as Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden.] [L. sinister: cf. F. sinistre.] 1. On the left hand, or the side of the left hand; left; -- opposed to {dexter}, or {right}. ``Here on his sinister cheek.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

My mother's blood Runs on the dexter cheek, and this sinister Bounds in my father's --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: In heraldy the sinister side of an escutcheon is the side which would be on the left of the bearer of the shield, and opposite the right hand of the beholder. [1913 Webster]

2. Unlucky; inauspicious; disastrous; injurious; evil; -- the left being usually regarded as the unlucky side; as, sinister influences. [1913 Webster]

All the several ills that visit earth, Brought forth by night, with a sinister birth. --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

3. Wrong, as springing from indirection or obliquity; perverse; dishonest; corrupt; as, sinister aims. [1913 Webster]

Nimble and sinister tricks and shifts. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

He scorns to undermine another's interest by any sinister or inferior arts. --South. [1913 Webster]

He read in their looks . . . sinister intentions directed particularly toward himself. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

4. Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance. [1913 Webster]

{Bar sinister}. (Her.) See under {Bar}, n.

{Sinister aspect} (Astrol.), an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini.

{Sinister base}, {Sinister chief}. See under {Escutcheon}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bar sinister — Bar Bar (b[aum]r), n. [OE. barre, F. barre, fr. LL. barra, W. bar the branch of a tree, bar, baren branch, Gael. & Ir. barra bar. [root]91.] 1. A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to its breadth or thickness, used as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bar sinister — n. nontechnical or literary term for BEND SINISTER …   English World dictionary

  • bar sinister — noun bastardism, bastardization, bastardy, baton, birth out of wedlock, champain, illegitimacy, illegitimateness, illegitimation, illicit procreation, misbegetting, unlawful begetting Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • bar-sinister — bar sinˈister see ↑baton sinister under ↑baton • • • Main Entry: ↑bar …   Useful english dictionary

  • bar sinister — bar′ sin′ister n. 1) her a putative heraldic charge presumed to indicate illegitimate birth 2) the condition or stigma of illegitimate birth …   From formal English to slang

  • bar sinister — Synonyms and related words: achievement, alerion, animal charge, annulet, argent, armorial bearings, armory, arms, aspersion, attaint, azure, badge of infamy, bandeau, bantling, bar, bastard, bastard child, bastardism, bastardy, baton, bearings,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • bar sinister — 1. Heraldry. (not in technical use) a bend sinister or a baton. 2. the proof, condition, or stigma of illegitimate birth. [1815 25] * * * …   Universalium

  • bar sinister — noun popular term for bend sinister …   English new terms dictionary

  • bar sinister — /ba ˈsɪnəstə / (say bah sinuhstuh) noun 1. Heraldry (erroneously) a baton or a bend sinister. 2. the implication or proof of bastard birth …  

  • bar sinister — noun 1. the status of being born to parents who were not married • Syn: ↑bastardy, ↑illegitimacy • Hypernyms: ↑status, ↑position 2. a mark of bastardy; lines from top right to bottom left • Syn: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”