premonition

[pree-muh-nish-uhn, prem-uh-]

noun

1. a feeling of anticipation of or anxiety over a future event; presentiment.

   He had a vague premonition of danger.

   Synonyms: sign, omen, portent, foreboding

2. a forewarning.

premonition

/ prɪˈmɒnɪtərɪ, ˌprɛməˈnɪʃən, -trɪ /

noun

1. an intuition of a future, usually unwelcome, occurrence; foreboding

2. an early warning of a future event; forewarning

Other Word Forms

• premonitory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of premonition¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English premunicioun, from Late Latin praemonitiōn-, stem of praemonitiō “a forewarning”; equivalent to pre- + monition; also praemunire

Word History and Origins

Origin of premonition¹

C16: from Late Latin praemonitiō, from Latin praemonēre to admonish beforehand, from prae before + monēre to warn, advise

Related Words

• foreboding 
• hunch 
• omen 
• portent