sinister [LME] In Latin sinister meant ‘left’ or ‘left-hand’, but apart from terms in heraldry such as bend sinister, a broad diagonal stripe from top right to bottom left of a shield which is a supposed sign of illegitimacy, sinister in English has never meant the physical left-hand side. Instead it reflects deep-rooted prejudices against left-handedness, which had associations of evil, malice, or dishonesty. See also ambidextrous, dexterous.