sinisternessn.
/ˈsɪnᵻstənəs/, U.S. /ˈsɪnᵻstərnəs/ rare before 20th cent.
The quality of being sinister (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > spitefulness > [noun]
maliciousness1447
peevishness1468
spitefulness1530
sinisterness1611
viciousness1879
cattishness1894
cattiness1920
bitchiness1934
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > unkindness > spite, malice > [noun] > quality
maliciousness1447
peevishness1468
spitefulness1530
sinisterness1611
viciousness1879
cattishness1894
pussycat1911
cattiness1920
bitchiness1934
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Sinistrézza, sinisternesse, crosse-lucke, contrarietie, thwart fortune.
1867 Eclectic Rev. Apr. 262 The demon of hypocrisy, sinisterness and sensuality looks out from every link of the face.
1957 Times 9 Dec. 5/2 Such a view exaggerates the sinisterness of Moscow's immediate purposes.
2005 Independent 6 Dec. 35/2 Pinter's staccato sinisterness does not illustrate a point; it distracts the audience from the fact his point is so banal.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1611