Word · Frequency #23278
portentous
重大的；有不祥意味的
核心释义
having great or ominous significance
- 1.
重大或凶兆的
Of momentous or ominous significance.
- 2.
不祥预言的
Ominously prophetic.
- 3.
虚荣自大的
Puffed up with vanity.
预言不祥的；预示凶事的；自命不凡的；虚荣的；重大或凶兆的；不祥预言的；虚荣自大的
用法In use
The dark clouds over the hill looked portentous, so we decided to head home early.
用法提示：portentous 是形容词，此处意为“预示不祥的”，在句中作表语。
His portentous warning about the coming storm made everyone uneasy.
用法提示：portentous 是形容词，此处意为“不祥预言的”，在句中作定语修饰 warning。
The sudden silence in the room felt portentous, as if something bad was about to happen.
用法提示：portentous 是形容词，此处意为“有凶兆的”，在句中作表语。
portentous + noun
作定语时，形容事物带有重大或不祥的意味。
The portentous silence among the crowd made everyone uneasy.
人群中不祥的寂静让每个人都感到不安。
be + portentous
作表语时，常与系动词 be 连用，表示主语本身具有不祥或沉重的氛围。
相关词与表达Connections
搭配Collocations
- portentous moment
- 重大时刻；决定性时刻
- The signing of the agreement was a portentous moment in the negotiations.协议的签署是谈判中的一个决定性时刻。
- portentous silence
- 不祥的沉寂
- A portentous silence fell over the room before the verdict was read.宣读判决之前，房间里笼罩着一片不祥的沉寂。
- portentous event
- 重大事件；预兆性事件
- The eclipse was seen as a portentous event by the ancient astronomers.古代天文学家认为这次日食是一个有预兆的重大事件。
- portentous speech
- 虚夸的演说；装腔作势的讲话
- His portentous speech was full of grand claims but little substance.他那装腔作势的演说满是夸大的说法，却没什么实质内容。
学习提示Learner notes
记忆技巧Memory Tip
想象黑云压城，凶兆临头，沉重而不安——这就是 portentous 的感觉。
语境与语域Context & Register
语域：formal 常见场景：literary prose、formal news reports、ceremonial speeches portentous 是一个相当正式、多用于书面语的形容词，常见于文学作品、严肃新闻或正式演讲中。它既可表示“不祥的、凶兆的”，也可表示“重大的、了不起的”或“自命不凡的”，语气通常夸张或沉重。日常口语中很少使用，非正式场合出现时往往带有刻意或戏谑的效果。
发音与拼写Pronunciation & Spelling
Portentous rhymes with momentous: both have the stressed vowel /e/ followed by /ntəs/. Beware pretentious and contentious: they look similar but end in /ˈtenʃəs/, not /ˈtentəs/, so they do not rhyme. Ominous and pompous share only the spelling of -ous, not the stressed sound.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.