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Webster 1913 Edition

Adj.

[L.

portentosus

Of the nature of a portent; containing portents; foreshadowing, esp. foreshadowing ill; ominous.

For, I believe, they are

portentous

things.

Shakespeare

Victories of strange and almost

portentous

splendor.

Macaulay.

Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful;

as, a beast of

portentous

size

Roscommon.

–

Por-tent′ous-ly

adv.

–

Por-tent′ous-ness

Noun.

Adj.

[L. portentosus.] Ominous; foreshowing ill. Ignorance and superstition hold meteors to be portentous.

Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; in an ill sense.

No beast of more portentous size,

In the Hercynian forest lies.