presentiment

American  

[pri-zen-tuh-muhnt] / prɪˈzɛn tə mənt /

noun

1. a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, especially something evil; foreboding.

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presentiment British  

/ prɪˈzɛntɪmənt /

noun

1. a sense of something about to happen; premonition

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Other Word Forms

• presentimental
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of presentiment

1705–15; < French, now obsolete spelling of pressentiment. See pre-, sentiment

Explanation

Do you ever have the feeling that something bad is about to happen? That’s called a presentiment. The word presentiment comes from the Latin word præsentire, meaning “to sense beforehand.” Some people call it a "gut feeling." For example, if you leave for a trip and something doesn't feel right, you may chalk it up to just being nervous. But later, when your flight is cancelled and you lose your luggage, you may remember that little twinge — the presentiment that something bad was about to happen.

Example Sentences

Presentiment that long shadow passes over, and we are the startled grass.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Presentiment, foreboding, omen become the essential tissue of works that are lifted by them into the higher realm of imagination.

From Recollections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti by Caine, Hall, Sir

Presentiment, prē-sen′ti-ment, n. a sentiment or feeling beforehand: previous opinion: an impression as of something unpleasant soon to happen.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Presentiment "My Sister" Cometh a voice from a far-land!

From Poems: Patriotic, Religious by Ryan, Abram Joseph

Presentiment indeed it is, but not at all supernatural.

From Charlotte Bront? A Monograph by Reid, T. Wemyss