Middle English Dictionary Entry
sinistre adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | sinistre adj. Also sinister, sinest(e)r, senistre, senester, senstere; pl. sinistres. |
| Etymology | OF sinistre & senestre, senistre, sinestre & L sinister. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) False, dishonest, fraudulent; ~ informacioun, ~ suggestioun, etc.; ~ labour (mene); (b) of a person: deceitful, perfidious; (c) corrupt, perverse; (d) dwellen in ~ conceite (opinioun), to live with an erroneous reputation, appear in an unfavorable light; (e) as noun: a false, corrupt person; (f) ~ fortune, ill fortune, fall from grace.
Associated quotations
a
- (1411) RParl.3.650b : And of all that by sinistre information, I havyng doute of harme of my body..dyd assemble thise persones.
- (1439) *Proc.Chanc.PRO ser.C 1 file 9no.121 : All the seid feoffes ben past to god and oon..by sinistre enformacioun and evel stiryng of oon William Walrond..þe which..hath take aweye þe dedes longyng to the seid heritage.
- (1450) RParl.5.179b : The seid Duke..hath by sotill meanes and sinistre suggestions for his speciall availe caused you to graunte many libertees.
- (1455) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2342 : My trust hath be that though suche sinestr enformacion had come vnto yow, ye wolde..first haue enquere..that suche suggestions had be true.
- (1455) Paston (Gairdner)3.24 : We..beseche our blessed Creature to prosper..and to your sayd Hyghnesse..not to plese to geve trust or confidence unto the sinistrez, maliciouse, and fraudulent laboures and rapportes of our..ennemyes.
- (1461) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.25 : By synistre meane and labour the said Sir John Rysley by subtill practis wrote a lettre of manace and thretyng.
- (a1467) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxvii : The said countes of Shrovesbury of her grete myght, eville, and malicious disposicion is fully sette by such senistre meanes for to utterly distroye..your said bisecher.
- (c1474) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.1930 : Yf he haue gyven you any other sinystre enformation I pray you hertly lett me haue knolech in wrytyng, that I may answer therto.
- a1500 Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)125 : Ye, of wilfulnesse and by sinistre excitacion, not havyng regarde unto the said contract, wol not applie you, ne condescende, unto the said mariage.
b
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)258/33 : Yf some of his synester frendes haue informed geffray otherwyse than raison, I wold humbly beseche..hym that he vouche sauf to here my said lord..in his escuses.
c
- (1474) RParl.6.110a : The said Dettours..by..subtiell meanes lyfyn and contynuyn in habundaunce of goodes and havour, to their sinister pleasure.
d
- (1432) Paston (Gairdner)2.38 : If thei..have be enformed of eny thing that may be..to his charge or defaulte..that the said Erle may have knowleche therof, to thentent that he may answer therto, and not dwelle in hevy or synistre conceit or opinion withoute his desert and without answere.
e
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)357/57 : Be that senstere ded, mary, that fise, We shal brenne here body and the aschis hide.
f
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)141.248 (v.2:p.401) : This knyth had told al his male auenture and his sinistre fortune.
2.
Located on the left side of the body.
Associated quotations
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)3049 : The sinistre Arme smote he vppon trew, Ryght As belonged to knightly uertew.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)84/20 : Raymondyn..putte hys knee on his nauell and the hand senester at hys nek, and held hym.