Portentous
Adjective
- Of, relating to, or constituting a portent.
- Eliciting amazement or wonder; prodigious.
- Being a grave or serious matter.
- Self-consciously solemn or important; pompous.
- Ponderously excessive.
Example Sentences
“The dark, swirling clouds over the park felt portentous, warning us to pack up the picnic early.”
“Her ability to memorize every co-worker’s complex coffee order without writing anything down is portentous.”
“The waiter gave us a portentous speech about the emotional journey of the daily special.”
Word Origin
Latin, 15th century
Why this word?
This adjective — from the Latin “portentum,” meaning “omen, token” — describes something related to a portent, which is something that foreshadows a coming event. A fortune teller, for example, prides themself on portentous pronouncements. But foreshadowing is not the only usage of the word (though it is the most common). Something portentous might be amazing or awe-inspiring, or it might be a serious matter. The word can also be used in a deprecating way, making fun of someone who is extremely self-important.
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