portentous
UK: pɔːˈtɛntəs | US: pɔːrˈtɛntəs
adj. suggesting something significant or calamitous is about to happen
adj. pompously solemn or self-important
adj. marvelous or prodigious (archaic)
portentous = portent<omen> + ous<adjective suffix>
- portent (from Latin portentum, "sign, omen," derived from portendere, "to foretell")
- ous (suffix forming adjectives, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of")
Etymology Origin:
The word portentous traces back to Latin portentum, meaning an omen or prophetic sign. The root portendere combines por- (a variant of pro-, "forward") and tendere ("to stretch"), metaphorically suggesting "stretching forward" to predict the future. Over time, portentous evolved to describe both ominous events and exaggerated solemnity, reflecting its dual association with foreboding and pomp.
The dark clouds and eerie silence created a portentous atmosphere before the storm.
His portentous speech about the company’s future left the employees uneasy.
The old tome was filled with portentous warnings of doom.
She dismissed his portentous tone as mere theatrics.
In ancient times, eclipses were seen as portentous events.