parlous

[ pahr-luhs ]

See synonyms for parlous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

perilous; dangerous: parlous times;a cold and parlous winter.
Obsolete. clever; shrewd.

adverb

Rare. to a large extent; greatly.

Origin of parlous

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

Other words from parlous

par·lous·ly, adverb
par·lous·ness, noun

Words Nearby parlous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use parlous in a sentence

Some economists argue that the parlous state of the middle class is being disguised by poor accounting.
The Economy is Great. The Middle Class is Mad | Belinda Luscombe | April 28, 2022 | Time
One day, while walking the dog, Joel weighed in on the parlous state of the federal minimum wage.
Fighting With a Family Member Over Politics? Try These 4 Steps | Belinda Luscombe | February 19, 2021 | Time
They also counted on exploiting Honduras's parlous state of affairs among frightened voters.
Honduras Presidential Election Passes Over Chavez Loyalists | Mac Margolis | November 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Cities in parlous financial condition often need creditors to keep going.
Saving Detroit: When a Big City Stops Being Big | Megan McArdle | May 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
It could happen here—and in 2010, a parlous American economy did give the GOP a robust midterm triumph.
Obama Realigns, the GOP Declines: The New Political Paradigm | Robert Shrum | February 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Not since Harry Truman has a president taken office at a more parlous moment.
Fix the Country Already! | Walter Shapiro | March 17, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Twelve months earlier, under guidance of Land League, Ireland was in a parlous state.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 147, August 12, 1914 | Various
He resented what he imagined as being the knowledge these boon companions boasted of his parlous state.
The Terms of Surrender | Louis Tracy
If the forgiveness of our debtors is a condition precedent to our own forgiveness, most of us are in a parlous state.
The Law and the Poor | Edward Abbott Parry
These were no doubt fearful of boring the Christians whose precious society the Jew enjoyed on a parlous tenure.
Ghetto Comedies | Israel Zangwill
What a mercy poor Whitefoot was sure footed, and did not stumble, for the way was parlous difficult.
The House of Walderne | A. D. Crake

British Dictionary definitions for parlous

parlous

/ (ˈpɑːləs) archaic, or jocular /

adjective

dangerous or difficult
cunning

adverb

extremely

Origin of parlous

C14 perlous, variant of perilous

Derived forms of parlous

parlously, adverb
parlousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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