All Words > Portentous

illustration Portentous

Portentous

[pȯr-ˈten-təs]

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin

1.

Relating to a serious matter; ominous

2.

Self-important to the point of pompousness

Examples of Portentous in a sentence

"The portentous skyscraper was impossible to ignore."

"The "Keep Out" sign was a portentous warning."

About Portentous

Portentous has a variety of meanings, but they all relate to a Latin root meaning “foretold.” An ominous event could be foretold, while a child prodigy might be foretelling of a bright future.

Did you Know?

Portentous shares roots with a word that means "foretold," which makes sense considering that one definition relates to the discussion of how a serious matter will turn out.

illustration Portentous

Recent Words

What's the word?