premonitory
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of premonitory
From the Late Latin word praemonitōrius, dating back to 1640–50. See pre-, monitory
Explanation
Use the adjective premonitory to describe something that predicts something bad will happen, like a premonitory sneezing fit that comes before you come down with an awful cold. The adjective premonitory is related to the Latin word praemonere, from prae, meaning “before,” and monere, meaning “warn.” The dark premonitory clouds that roll in before a storm can ruin your day at the beach, or the premonitory feeling that a new friend isn't trustworthy are warnings to pack up and get out before something disastrous happens.
Vocabulary lists containing premonitory
A Walk in the Woods
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
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"Tlön, Uqbar, Orbus Tertius" by Jorge Luis Borges
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In M. Bozzano's excellent collection, which is a sort of compendium of Premonitory phenomena, the only pretty clear cases are nos. cli, and clviii., both of which are taken from the Journal of the S.P.R.
From The Unknown Guest by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander
Premonitory movements were observed, and in some instances seconded, as in France, in others allayed by power or concessions, as in Austria and Great Britain.
From Graham's Magazine, Vol XXXIII, No. 6, December 1848 by Various
Premonitory signs can already be discerned in far-off regions heralding the approach of the day when troops will flock to its standard, fulfilling the predictions uttered long ago by the Supreme Captain of its forces.
From Messages to the Bahá’í World: 1950–1957 by Shoghi Effendi
Too soon among the forest gums Premonitory flame she spills, Bleak, melancholy flame that kills.
From Poems by Cawein, Madison Julius
Premonitory Symptoms.—In the cases in which epilepsia gravior was present there were— No premonitory symptoms in 34.4 per cent.
From A Statistical Inquiry Into the Nature and Treatment of Epilepsy by Bennett, Alexander Hughes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
