prēˈzentəmənt, prə̇ˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete French presentiment (now pressentiment ), from Middle French presentiment, pressentiment, from pressentir to have a presentiment of (from Latin praesentire to perceive beforehand) + -ment
1.
a. : an impression, conviction, or feeling that something will or is about to happen : a vague expectation of a future event that seems to be a direct perception although it has no basis in fact
I've a strong presentiment it'll prove a success — J.C.Powys
the almost total lack of presentiment … of the new forces about to be released — S.T.Possony
b. : an antecedent impression or conviction of something unpleasant, distressing, or calamitous about to happen : an anticipatory fear : foreboding , premonition
a thousand presentiments of evil to her beloved — Jane Austen
2. : an opinion or conception formed prior to actual knowledge of something : prejudgment
reason has a presentiment of objects which possess a great interest for it — Friedrich Max Müller
Synonyms: see apprehension