(ˈ) ̷ ̷|tentəs, sometimes ÷-nchəs adjective
Etymology: Latin portentosus, from portentum portent + -osus -ous
1. : of, relating to, or constituting a portent : pregnant with consequence or possibility
the events under discussion are portentous — Philip Hamburger
2. : eliciting amazement or wonder : marvelous , monstrous , prodigious
the extraordinary old man gave him a second portentous wink — J.C.Powys
3. : exhibiting gravity or ponderousness : self-consciously weighty : inflated , pompous
a voice that manages to be both cozy and portentous — Gilbert Seldes
regarded all these things with a portentous solemnity — H.G.Wells
the style is so portentous that one expects up to the last paragraph that something of moment is about to be revealed — Dachine Rainer
Synonyms: see ominous