sinistrorse

[sin-uh-strawrs, si-nis-trawrs, sin-uh-strawrs]

adjective

Botany.

1. (from a point of view at the center of the spiral) rising spirally in a counterclockwise manner, as a stem (dextrorse ).

sinistrorse

/ ˌsɪnɪˈstrɔːs, ˈsɪnɪˌstrɔːs /

adjective

1. (of some climbing plants) growing upwards in a spiral from right to left, or clockwise Compare dextrorse

Other Word Forms

• sinistrorsely adverb
• sinistrorsal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinistrorse¹

1855–60; < Latin sinistrōrsus literally, turned leftwards, contraction of *sinistriversus. See sinister, versus

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinistrorse¹

C19: from Latin sinistrōrsus turned towards the left, from sinister on the left + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

Sinistrorse, turned to the left.

Read more on Project Gutenberg