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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1485-1632

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Sinister, adj. Also: synister, -ir, sinistre, sinester, senister, senist-, senestre, sunster, (sinistrie). [Late ME and e.m.E. sinistre (1411), synistre (1432), sinister (1474), F. sinistre (13th c. in Larousse), L. sinister.]

1. Of information, a report, etc.: Designed to mislead or deceive; prompted by ill-will, malicious.(a) 1497 Acts Lords of Council II 81.
Schir Andro Bassindene, chapellane, be his wrang and synister informacione purchest our soverane lordis letters chargeing the sade Maister Wilyeame [etc.]
1498 Acts Lords of Council II 155, etc. 1498–9 Acts Lords of Council II 338.
Sinister
1502 Acts Lords of Council III 176.
Synistir
1530–1 Reg. Privy S. II 109/1.
Sinister informatioun and circumventioun
1537 Acts Sederunt i 30.
Sinistre
1545–6 Corr. M. Lorraine 158.
He is agit and of greit exsperienc … quharfor it suld no[cht] be an presumption nor synister information [that] suld hurt sic a man
1572 Crail B. Ct. MS 6 Oct.
The samin is obtenit and purchessit vpoun ane vranguse and sinister informatioun
1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 25.
Be vertew of oure utheris letteris purcheist … upone the sinister informatioun of James Leslie
1599 Criminal Trials II 89.
Johne Carstairis … is vpoune sinister repoirt and informatioune maid of him, summond to vnderlye our lawis … And seing we perfytelie knaw the said Johne to be alwayes innocent of the said cryme [etc.]
(b) 1485 Exchequer Rolls IX 646 n.
Gif the said Johne informit the kingis heines that [etc.] … that it was wrang and senister informacion
1524 Douglas Corr. 91.
If there be any of my unfrendis that in my absence have made senestre informacion of me unto your grace
1582 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I 147.
The senister report maid of ws and the remanentt … burrowis

b. Of counsel or advice.1521 Douglas Corr. 80.
That the Queyne, be evil and senister consale is mekill inclynt to the plessour of the Duke
1533 Boece 163.
Mogall … causit iustifye thame to dede becaus thai corruptit him with sinister counsell

2. Of opinions, fears, etc.: Adverse, unfavourable; suggestive of doubt or suspicion.c1590 Fowler II 140/26.
Suche persouns … by loyal obedience … might abolish the sin[i]strie [sic] opinioun that he [sc. the prince] may conceave of theme
1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 258.
Implying … his majestie to be a tyrrant … and foistering in the hairtis and opinionis of his flocke … mony sinister apprehensionis

3. Of actions, practices, stratagems, etc.: Dishonest, underhand.1491 Acts Lords Auditors 153/2.
The senister purchessing of ane commissioune of the bischop of Abirdene
1528 Douglas Corr. 129.
I nevir faltit nor committit sic sober crymes as wes allegit at the instance and sinister solicitatioune of my party
1539 Chart. Coupar A. II 165.
Schaw now ȝour myndis and murmur nocht efterwart that this is done be ony senister way
1599 Reg. Privy C. VI 5.
Be some sinister moyane and wrangous informatioun

4. a. Corrupt, evil. b. Erroneous.a. 1490 Irland Mir. III 121/36.
The passiounis and sinister affecciounis of the sensuall appetit
1549 Complaynte of Scotland 2/24.
Tha … dissaitful … volfis of Ingland hes intendit ane oniust veyr be ane sinister inuentit false titil contrar our realme
1549 Complaynte of Scotland 160/16.
Thy abusione, and the sinister ministratione of thy office, is the special cause of the scisma
1556 Dundee B. Ct. III fol. 72 (5 Oct.).
Na commone office or accioun public … suld be gevine or disponit be private or sinister requeistis
b. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv 157.
They haue also this sinister opinion, that at the day of iudgement … Mahomet shall appeare

5. Situated at the left-hand side.1494 Loutfut MS 2a.
At the senistre [Lindsay MS sunster] part [sc. of the lists] sall be a scaffauld ordanit for the herauldis & officiaris of armes
c1550-c1580 Art of Music 2.
All noitt iniciall hawand the taill down in the part senistre of it, is for ane breff haldin
c1550-c1580 Art of Music 2.
All noit iniciall quhowewer it be formit, hawand the taill vp in the senistre part is a semibrew

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