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

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

Sinistrous, adj. Also: sinistrouse, -ows, -us, -uous, sin-, synisterous, senistrous, -uous, -(eo)us. [e.m.E. sinisterous (1560), sinistrus (a1575), sinistrous (1598), -uous (1687), L. sinistr-. Cf. Sinister adj.]

1. Designed to deceive or mislead; malicious, prejudiced.(a) c1575 Balfour Pract. 184.
The said infeftment … may be reducit, and declarit of nane availl … upon sinistrous narratioun maid be him to quhome the samin was gevin 1591 Crail B. Ct. MS 19 July.
The counsall … declarit the saidis lettres to hawe bein vrongowslie purchest vpone sinistrous informatioun off the said Androw 1600-1610 Melvill 119.
Sinistrus 1605 Melvill 584.
Sinisterous 1608 Crim. Trials II 557.
Sinisterous 1608 Highland P. III 113.
That thairby … ȝour heichnes may be inarmit aganis synisterous reportes of our procedinges 1643 Fam. Rose 334.
Sinistrows a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 264.
Some tacite sinistrous insinuation 1688 Coll. Rebus Alban. 113.(b) 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 2b.
See judgement executed and delay not the poore mans cause, nor let no senistrus request recall thy just resolution 1618 Sc. Brigade in Holland I 290.
My consience whitche is abil to defend me against al malitious and senistreous reports(c) 1601 Reg. Privy C. VI 306.
[Now, the said licence has been granted to Draggie] upoun sinistruous narratioun 1627 Moray Synod 20.
James Gordone of Lettirfurie … quha had perverted that whole people by his sinistruous informatioun

2. a. Mistaken, false. b. Heretical, erroneous.a. 1586 Cal. Sc. P. IX 25.
Craveing hir majestie … to consave no sinistrous nor wrong opinioun of me 1632 Lithgow Trav. v 194.
They approue the apprehension of such a sinistrous opinion with these argumentsb. 1581 Burne Disput. 164.
It is maist euident, that ȝe vraist the scripture to ane sinistrous mening 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 4b.
Euerie curious heid … mycht … apply thame [sc. the scriptures] to ane peruerse and sinistrous sense

3. Evil, dishonest, corrupt.(a) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 24.
Giue me ane vpricht hart, that na sinistrous intention detourne it from the richt vay 1605 Acts Sederunt i 63. 1610 Conv. Burghs II 301.
Malicious … personis … quha, vpon frivoll and sinistrus caussis procurs aft tymes suspensions of the letters 1613 Crim. Trials III 262.
He wald vndertak to get ane witche, that, be sum sinisterous meanis, wald tak away the lyves of the saidis tuo boyis 1666 S. Ronaldshay 54.
To lay asyd all sinistrous or evill thoughts towards any persones than present 1669 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 677.
For ther sinistrous and particular ends 1681 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 286.
They entered upon clandestine and sinistrouse contryvances 1704 Edgar Hist. Dumfries App. 277.
That pewthering is a crime of sinistrous seeking after honour(b) 1653 Argyll Synod II 134.
Which glibe Sir Donald Campbell of Ardnamurchan by some senistrous privat pactone gott [etc.](c) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 275.
Twa poets of Edinburgh, perceauing his sinistruous dealling, did publish the same to the people 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 351.
A most effectual corrective, both of sinistruous designes, and evill mixtures 1689 Culross II 2.
For advancing Poperie they have … been using sinistruous methods 1692 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 103.
Ill minded men in the council … who have been … admitted in all the steps of this electione to make up pack magistracy and council for sinistruous ends(d) 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 261.
Also that the useing of false senistruous ways to be free from the Kings excyse is a crime