1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; see porter 2
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"But I saw her lift the portière," I persisted; "she has only just dropped it."
From There is no Death by Marryatt, Florence
They were playing Sir Roger in the party-room as I held aside the bead portière for Louie to pass, and the couples, seen through the gauzy hanging, seemed spectrally charming.
From The Debit Account by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]
This Prussian lady was sitting one morning in her boudoir, when she heard a rustling sound in the ante-room, which was divided by a portière from the boudoir.
From Ghosts and Family Legends A Volume for Christmas by Crowe, Catherine
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 Onions, Oliver [pseud.]
They were gone to the Expiatoire, the portière told me.
From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida
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.
