Definitions for portentous
pɔrˈtɛn təs, poʊr-por·ten·tous

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. portentous, prodigiousadjective

   of momentous or ominous significance

   "such a portentous...monster raised all my curiosity"- Herman Melville; "a prodigious vision"

2. fateful, foreboding(a), portentousadjective

   ominously prophetic

3. grandiloquent, overblown, pompous, pontifical, portentousadjective

   puffed up with vanity

   "a grandiloquent and boastful manner"; "overblown oratory"; "a pompous speech"; "pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey"- Newsweek

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portentousadjective

   Of momentous or ominous significance.

2. portentousadjective

   Ominously prophetic.

3. portentousadjective

   Puffed up with vanity.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Portentousadjective

   Monstrous; prodigious; foretokening ill.

   Etymology: portentosus, Lat. from portent.

   They are portentous things
   Unto the climate, that they point at. William Shakespeare.

   This portentous figure
   Comes armed through our watch so like the king
   That was. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

   Overlay
   With this portentous bridge the dark abyss. John Milton.

   No beast of more portentous size
   In the Hercinian forest lies. Wentworth Dillon.

   Let us look upon them as so many prodigious exceptions from our common nature, as so many portentous animals, like the strange unnatural productions of Africa. South.

   Every unwonted meteor is portentous, and some divine prognostick. Joseph Glanvill.

   The petticoat will shrink at your first coming to town; at least a touch of your pen will make it contract itself, and by that means oblige several who are terrified or astonished at this portentous novelty. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 127.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. portentous

   Portentous refers to something that gives a sign or warning that something significant or calamitous, often unpleasant, is likely to happen. It can also relate to something done in a pompously or overly solemn manner so as to impress.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Portentousadjective

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

2. Portentousadjective

   hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful; as, a beast of portentous size

3. Etymology: [L. portentosus.]

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for portentous »

1. notopterus

How to pronounce portentous?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say portentous in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of portentous in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of portentous in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=portentous
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Portentous
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=portentous
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portentous
6. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=portentous