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Indicative of lurking evil or harm; boding covert danger; as, a sinister countenance. Bar sinister. (Her.) See under Bar, n. -- Sinister aspect (Astrol.), an appearance of two planets happening according to the succession of the signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the same degree of Gemini. -- Sinister base, Sinis…

An enticing, dangerous woman. Shak.

th a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger. Lest that too heavenly form . . . snare them. Milton. The mournful crocodile With sorrow snares relenting passengers. Shak.

To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.

o be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. Druden. No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck. Dryden.

in deeds or manners. Cæsar, by dismissing his guards and retaining his power, committed a dangerous solecism in politics. C. Middleton. The idea of having committed the slightest solecism in politeness was agony to him. Sir W. Scott.

ody hath touched me. Luke viii. 46. We must draw in somebody that may stand "Twixt us and danger." Denham.

To preserve from danger or punishment; to forbear to punish, injure, or harm; to show mercy to. Spare us, good Lord. Book of Common Prayer. Dim sadness did not spare That time celestial visages. Milton. Man alone can whom he conquers spare. Waller.

; -- often with away, or off. The ministry had him spirited away, and carried abroad as a dangerous person. Arbuthnot & Pope. I felt as if I had been spirited into some castle of antiquity. Willis. Spiriting away (Law), causing to leave; the offense of inducing a witness to leave a jurisdiction so as to evade process r…

An inflammable temper; spirit; mettle; pluck; as, a man of spunk. [Colloq.] A lawless and dangerous set, men of spunk, and spirit, and power, both of mind and body. Prof. Wilson.

t which is laid down as a wager; that which is staked or hazarded; a pledge. At stake, in danger; hazarded; pledged. "I see my reputation is at stake." Shak.

A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger. After having recovered from my first startle, I was very well pleased with the accident. Spectator.

To spread abroad; to disseminate. She may strew dangerous conjectures. Shak.

walking or in moving in any way with the legs; to strike the foot so as to fall, or to endanger a fall; to stagger because of a false step. There stumble steeds strong and down go all. Chaucer. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know at what they stumble. Prov. iv. 19.

, the sea subsides; the tumults of war will subside; the fever has subsided. "In cases of danger, pride and envy naturally subside." C. Middleton.

nity observed in consequence of some military success, and also, in times of distress and danger, to avert the anger of the gods.

Free from danger; safe; secure. Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off; If we recover that we are sure enough. Shak. -- To be sure, or Be sure, certainly; without doubt; as, Shall you do To be sure I shall. -- To make sure. (a) To make certain; to secure so that there can be no failure of the purpose or object.…

Without danger; firmly; steadly; securely. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely. Prov. x. 9.

ature to excite wonder and astonishment; as, surprising bravery; a surprising escape from danger. -- Sur*pris"ing*ly, adv. -- Sur*pris"ing*ness, n.

To dangle; to wave hanging. [Obs.] Johnson.