Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [pawr-ten-tuh s, pohr-]
- /pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr-/
- /pɔːˈten.təs/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [pawr-ten-tuh s, pohr-]
- /pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr-/
Definitions of portentous word
- adjective portentous of the nature of a portent; momentous. 1
- adjective portentous ominously significant or indicative: a portentous defeat. 1
- adjective portentous marvelous; amazing; prodigious. 1
- adjective portentous foretelling sth bad 1
- adjective portentous If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people. 0
- adjective portentous Something that is portentous is important in indicating or affecting future events. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of portentous
First appearance:
before 1530 One of the 29% oldest English words
From the Latin word portentōsus, dating back to 1530-40. See portent, -ous
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Portentous
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
portentous popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 83% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
portentous usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for portentous
adj portentous
- apocalyptical — of or like an apocalypse; affording a revelation or prophecy.
- delphian — a native or inhabitant of Delphi.
- dire — causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible: a dire calamity.
- doomful — foreshadowing doom; portentously direful; ominous.
adjective portentous
- comminatory — Threatening, punitive, or vengeful.
- doomy — fate or destiny, especially adverse fate; unavoidable ill fortune: In exile and poverty, he met his doom.
- jeopardous — perilous; dangerous; hazardous; risky.
- ominous — portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious: an ominous bank of dark clouds.
- oracular — of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle: an oracular response.
Top questions with portentous
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with p
- Words starting with po
- Words starting with por
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- Words starting with portentous