portiere
noun
a curtain hung in a doorway, either to replace the door or for decoration.
portiere
American
[pawr-tyair, -teer, pohr-, pawr-tee-air, pohr-]
/ pɔrˈtjɛər, -ˈtɪər, poʊr-, ˌpɔr tiˈɛər, ˌpoʊr- /
Or
portière
noun
portière
British
/ ˌpɔːtɪˈɛə, pɔrtjɛr /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of portiere
1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; see porter 2
Vocabulary lists containing portiere
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.
See Examples For:
Meantime, the prince retrieved his priceless paintings and handmade clothes from the portiere, or janitor, who had helpfully hidden them when the inspector called.
From Time Magazine Archive
He thought he saw Cathy’s door close very silently, but perhaps the leaping candlelight had fooled his eyes, for a portiere seemed to move too.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Here the portiere in his morning clothes, very different from the gorgeous apparel of afternoon, was sweeping out the courtyard.
From The Title Market by J. H. Gardner Soper
After repeated knocking he decided to go to the door, which he did, with hell-fire in his eyes, as his fiancée stepped behind a portiere.
From Edgar Saltus: The Man by Marie Saltus
The door by which the footman had departed was concealed by a portiere of heavy velvet; a hand had moved it aside and a face was looking round the edge of it at her.
From Those Who Smiled And Eleven Other Stories by Perceval Gibbon
Once he approached it quickly, but "Joey's" voice was heard from behind the portière, saying, "Don't come too near."
From There is no Death by Florence Marryatt
She did not come beyond the portière, but every one in the room saw her distinctly.
From There is no Death by Florence Marryatt
"This way," answered Ida, leading them past her own room, which came next, and pushing aside a heavy portière which covered a door at the opposite end of the hall from Magnolia Budine's room.
From The Little Colonel at Boarding-School by Annie F. (Annie Fellows) Johnston
McCartney swayed and seized a yellow-plush portière for support.
From Mortmain by Arthur Cheny Train
Then they shot the rusty bolt noiselessly back in place, dropped the portière, and listened again.
From The Little Colonel at Boarding-School by Annie F. (Annie Fellows) Johnston
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.
