Sinister
Encyclopedia
- In heraldryHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, the side of an escutcheonEscutcheonIn heraldry, an escutcheon is a shield which forms the main or focal element in an achievement of arms. The word is used in two related senses....
or coat of armsCoat of armsA coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
that is to the left of the bearer (opposed to dexterDexter and sinisterDexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms and by extension also to a crest. "Dexter" means to the right from the viewpoint of the bearer of the arms, to the left of that of the viewer...
) - In the Middle AgesMiddle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it was believed that when a person was writing with their left hand they were possessed by the DevilDevilThe Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
. (This was uncommon, particularly as there were fewer literate people). Left-handed people were therefore considered to be evil. Hence, the most common present-day meanings:- Threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous: a sinister remark
- Bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell: his sinister purposes
- Unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable: a sinister accident
- Comes from the Latin Sinistra meaning lefthand
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Sinister may also refer to:
- Bend (heraldry)Bend (heraldry)In heraldry, a bend is a coloured band running from the upper right corner of the shield to the lower left . Writers differ in how much of the field they say it covers, ranging from one-fifth up to one-third...
, Bend sinister, heraldic charge - Baton sinisterBaton sinisterBaton sinister is a charge used in heraldry.-Heraldic charge:It is a diminutive of the bend sinister and constitutes a narrow strip that runs from the upper right to the lower left of a coat of arms. It has been traditionally used as an indicator of an illegitimate birth in the family line...
, diminutive of the bend sinister
In comic books and literature:
- Mister SinisterMister SinisterMister Sinister is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #221 and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri....
, Marvel Comics supervillain - Sinister SixSinister SixThe Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, drawn from Spider-Man's rogues gallery. The original incarnation of the group was organized by Doctor Octopus, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 ....
, Marvel Comics supervillain group - Sinister Twelve, Marvel Comics supervillain group
- Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister SixSpider-Man: Return of the Sinister SixSpider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six is a video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Bits Studios software and published by LJN in 1992. Versions of the game were also released for the Sega Master System and Game Gear by the Flying Edge division of Acclaim...
, comic-related video game - Sinister DexterSinister DexterSinister Dexter is a long-running comic series in British comics anthology 2000 AD, created by Dan Abnett and David Millgate.Set in the near future, it features the exploits of gun sharks Finnigan "Finny" Sinister and Ramone "Ray" Dexter in the city of Downlode, sprawled across Central Europe...
, comic book - Simon Bar SinisterSimon Bar SinisterDr. Simon Bar Sinister was the main antagonist in the Underdog cartoon show. Simon is the wickedest man in the world, and it was his ambition to rule the world, but each time, Underdog defeated him.-Character:...
, villain on the Underdog cartoon show - Bend Sinister (novel), novel by Vladimir Nabokov
- The Sinister SignpostThe Sinister SignpostThe Sinister Sign Post is Volume 15 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane in 1936...
, Hardy Boys novel by Franklin W. Dixon
In music:
- Sinister (band)Sinister (band)Sinister is a death metal band from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, assembled in 1988, disassembled in 2003, and reassembled in 2005 by Adrie Kloosterwaard on vocals and Alex Paul on guitar...
, from the Netherlands - Sinister Footwear, orchestral ballet by Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
in three movements - The Sinister Urge (album)The Sinister Urge (album)-Credits:* Tom Baker - Mastering* Evelyne Bennu - Female Vocals* Blasko - Bass* Dan Burns - Assistant Engineer* Chris Chaney - Additional Bass* Marina Chavez - Photos* Josh Freese - Additional Drums* Gary Grant - Horns* Emm Gryner - Female Vocals...
, album by Rob Zombie - Sinister SlaughterSinister SlaughterSinister Slaughter is the second full-length album by American Death Metal band Macabre and was released in 1993 by Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork is a parody on the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band featuring serial killers and mass murderers instead of famous people...
, album by the band Macabre - Bend Sinister (album)Bend Sinister (album)Bend Sinister is a 1986 album by The Fall, released on Beggars Banquet Records. It reached number 36 in the UK charts. Its title is taken from Vladimir Nabokov's novel Bend Sinister . The US version of the album was titled The "Domesday Pay-Off" Triad Plus!.It was the third and last Fall album to...
, album by the band The Fall - If You're Feeling SinisterIf You're Feeling SinisterIf You're Feeling Sinister is the second album by Scottish pop group Belle & Sebastian, released on the independent label Jeepster Records in the United Kingdom and Matador Records in the United States...
, album by the band Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican, live album by Belle & Sebastian
See also
- The Sinister Minister (disambiguation)
- SinistralSinistralSinistral and dextral are scientific terms that describe chirality or relative direction in a number of disciplines.The terms are derived from the Latin words for “left” and “right” ....
, a scientific term - Synyster GatesSynyster GatesBrian Elwin Haner, Jr. , better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold.-Early life:...
, guitarist - DexterDexter and sinisterDexter and sinister are terms used in heraldry to refer to specific locations in an escutcheon bearing a coat of arms and by extension also to a crest. "Dexter" means to the right from the viewpoint of the bearer of the arms, to the left of that of the viewer...