portentous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   of momentous or ominous significance

   Such a portentous...monster raised all my curiosity- Herman Melville.

2. 2
   adj

   Of momentous or ominous significance.

   Well may it sort [be fitting] that this portentous figure comes armed through our watch, so like the King that was and is the question of these wars.

3. 3
   adj

   puffed up with vanity

4. 4
   adj

   ominously prophetic

Of multiple origins: * Borrowed from Latin portentōsus, from portentus (“predicted”) + -ōsus. Compare earlier portentuous (via Middle English from Latin portentuōsus). By surface analysis, portent + -ous. * Borrowed from French portentueux

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