Question

sinister adj. 不吉祥的；险恶的 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). 【记】sin 罪，罪恶的 + er, 罪恶的是不吉祥的

Accepted Answer

['sinistə] 【英】 adj.不吉祥的(presag ing 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)；sinistrors e(左旋的) adj. 不祥的 = ominous; 灾难性的【记】sinister作为词根在左侧的, 不幸的, 罗马占卜时, 视左侧出现的征兆为不祥sin罪孽, ister = sister: 姐姐犯错－不祥的【参】singe(v 轻微地烧焦)哥哥犯错

单词	sinister
音标	['sinistə]
解释	adj. 不吉祥的；险恶的
红宝书	【英】 adj.不吉祥的(presag ing 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)；sinistrors e(左旋的)
字源	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).
不择手段背单词	adj. 不祥的 = ominous; 灾难性的【记】sinister作为词根在左侧的, 不幸的, 罗马占卜时, 视左侧出现的征兆为不祥sin罪孽, ister = sister: 姐姐犯错－不祥的【参】singe(v 轻微地烧焦)哥哥犯错
趣味全助记	【记】sin 罪，罪恶的 + er, 罪恶的是不吉祥的

Sinister Left Sense Latin Heraldry Adj Early Side