Welcome to the first Wondrous Word for 2015! It’s a good one to mark the significance of a new year starting: portentous.
I found it in The Cuckoo’s Calling, the detective mystery that I didn’t get as much time to read over the holidays as I wanted.
“Well, Tansy is … doing herself no favors at all by repeating a story the police have proven, conclusively, could not have been true. No favors at all,” repeated Landry portentously.
portentous \por-‘tent-ǝs\ adj. from Latin portentum;
- Eliciting amazement or wonder
- Giving a sign or warning that something bad is about to happen; being a grave or serious matter
- Self-consciously solemn or important; pompous
- Ponderously excessive
I think the second or third definition applies best here. A good antonym for portentous is one of my previous Wondrous Words: auspicious.
To learn more interesting words, visit Kathy, the meme hostess, at her Bermuda Onion blog. You will certainly learn something new!
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a sentence about something portentous and share it in the comments. For example:
My son’s first day of high school was a portentous event in his life, and mine.
Recommended Reading
Are you looking for books to read in the New Year? Check out my post: Favorite Books from 2014, made with help from readers like you!
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
Julia
Loved finding your blog!
Thanks! Nice to meet you. 😉
I knew the second and third definitions, but not the others!
A sentence…let’s see…
The portentous tone of my six year old’s story left no room for debate; there would be much cleaning up to do.
Ha!
I am familar with that word, but I didn’t know the first two definitions. Like you I think the second or third definition work the best with that sentence.
happy reading
A good word, thanks for sharing it.
I do like that word, I really should use it more often.
The movie’s portentous music made chills go up my spine.