different between portentous vs foreboding

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin portent?sus, from portentus (“predicted”); equivalent to portent +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p??(?)?t?nt?s/

Adjective

portentous (comparative more portentous, superlative most portentous)

1. Of momentous or ominous significance.

   Synonyms: ominous, momentous
2. Ominously prophetic.

   Synonyms: foreshadowing, predictive, premonitory, prognosticatory

3. Puffed up with vanity.

Derived terms

• portentously

Related terms

• portent

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• forboding (much less commonly used)

Etymology

From Middle English forbodyng, vorboding, equivalent to fore- +? boding. Compare German Vorbote (“harbinger, omen”).

Noun

foreboding (plural forebodings)

1. A sense of evil to come.

   Synonym: augury
2. An evil omen.

Translations

Adjective

foreboding (comparative more foreboding, superlative most foreboding)

1. Of ominous significance; serving as an ill omen; foretelling of harm or difficulty.

Verb

foreboding

1. present participle of forebode