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
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
Lind bowed acquiescence; and the stranger passed again through the portiere and disappeared.
From Sunrise by William Black
Presently the portiere was drawn aside, and the little sallow-complexioned man whom he had seen on the previous evening entered the room.
From Sunrise by William Black
She was looking out of the window as I approached the house; she herself opened the door to me; and we walked through the bead portière and entered the party-room on the left.
From The Debit Account by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
Then Dodo peeped around the corner of the portière, and saw her mother very much preoccupied, so she beckoned to Mr. Fabian without being seen by the others.
From Polly and Her Friends Abroad by Lillian Elizabeth Roy
The portière alone fell all its length to the ground.
From Diana Tempest, Volume I (of 3) by Mary Cholmondeley
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
Beyond the audience chamber there were two or three more reception rooms, and from the last of these a door masked by a heavy portière, gave on milor's study.
From Petticoat Rule by Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
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.
