Portentous

Pronunciation: /pɔrˈtɛntəs/

Definitions of portentous

adjective portentous - of or like a portent; ominous; foreboding

Example Sentences

A1 The dark clouds in the sky were portentous of an impending storm.

A2 The eerie silence in the haunted house was portentous of something sinister.

B1 The sudden drop in stock prices was seen as a portentous sign of an economic downturn.

B2 The prophet's portentous warning of a great disaster caused panic among the people.

C1 The portentous atmosphere at the meeting hinted at major changes in the company.

C2 The discovery of ancient artifacts was a portentous event that changed the course of history.

Examples of portentous in a Sentence

formal The dark clouds gathering in the sky were a portentous sign of an impending storm.

informal The eerie silence in the room was a bit portentous, don't you think?

slang The way he looked at me with those intense eyes was totally portentous.

figurative Her sudden departure from the company was a portentous event that changed the course of our project.

Grammatical Forms of portentous

• past tense: portentous
• plural: portentous
• comparative: more portentous
• superlative: most portentous
• present tense: portentous
• future tense: will be portentous
• perfect tense: has been portentous
• continuous tense: is being portentous
• singular: portentous
• positive degree: portentous
• infinitive: to be portentous
• gerund: being portentous
• participle: portentous

Origin and Evolution of portentous

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'portentous' originated from the Latin word 'portentosus' which means foreboding or ominous.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'portentous' has evolved to also mean pompous or self-important, in addition to its original meaning of foreboding or ominous.