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Webster 1913 Edition


Portentous

Por-tent′ous

,
Adj.
[L.
portentosus
.]
1.
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.
2.
Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful;
as, a beast of
portentous
size
.
Roscommon.
Por-tent′ous-ly
,
adv.
Por-tent′ous-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Portentous

PORTENT'OUS

,
Adj.
[L. portentosus.] Ominous; foreshowing ill. Ignorance and superstition hold meteors to be portentous.
1.
Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; in an ill sense.
No beast of more portentous size,
In the Hercynian forest lies.

Definition 2024


portentous

portentous

English

Adjective

portentous (comparative more portentous, superlative most portentous)

  1. Of momentous or ominous significance.
  2. Ominously prophetic.
  3. Puffed up with vanity.

Translations

Related terms