parlous

American  

[pahr-luhs] / ˈpɑr ləs /

adjective

1. perilous; dangerous.

   parlous times;

   a cold and parlous winter.

2. Obsolete. clever; shrewd.

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adverb

1. Rare. to a large extent; greatly.

parlous British  

/ ˈpɑːləs /

adjective

1. dangerous or difficult

2. cunning

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adverb

1. extremely

Other Word Forms

• parlously
  adverb
• parlousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of parlous

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of perlous, shortening of perilous

Explanation

Parlous is an adjective that means "dangerous," such as the parlous car trip with a new driver behind the wheel! The first syllable in parlous rhymes with far and is accented: "PAR-less." It means dangerous — something that is parlous might carry the risk or threat of harm, like a parlous experience of being in a boat during a rainstorm. Parlous and perilous are synonyms. In fact, parlous is a shortened version, or contraction, of perilous that came about in the late 14th century.

Example Sentences

"The state of the global climate? Parlous," said Prof Dave Reay, University of Edinburgh.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2020

Parlous his case; and for him the sky was upside down.

From Bakemono Yashiki (The Haunted House), Retold from the Japanese Originals Tales of the Tokugawa, Volume 2 by De Benneville, James S. (James Seguin)

Parlous as our plight was, we had food and drink and tobacco for our pipes afterwards; and a seaman needs little more than that to make him happy.

From The House Under the Sea A Romance by Pemberton, Max, Sir

Parlous Times is a society novel of to-day.

From The Van Dwellers A Strenuous Quest for a Home by Paine, Albert Bigelow

And as 'tis said a Parlous Ass once spoke, When Crab-tree Cudgel did his rage provoke, &c.

From Essays on the Stage Preface to the Campaigners (1689) and Preface to the Translation of Bossuet's Maxims and Reflections on Plays (1699) by Krutch, Joseph Wood