premonitory

[ pri-mon-i-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. giving premonition; serving to warn beforehand.

Word History and Origins

Origin of premonitory¹

From the Late Latin word praemonitōrius, dating back to 1640–50. See pre-, monitory

Example Sentences

Tempted as we may be to view this episode as premonitory, keep in mind these episodes were written and filmed many months ago.

From Salon

During the initial stage of a migraine attack — called the premonitory or prodrome phase, which can begin a few hours to days before the headache phase hits — people may experience symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, light sensitivity, muscle stiffness, yawning and increased urination, Dr. Goadsby said.

From New York Times

Adnan’s fantasy of escaping this planet’s gravity reverberates now with extra premonitory vision, but it’s also a lament of the violence we inflict upon it and ourselves, and the sadness of abandoning something so beautiful.

From New York Times

I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the door, he entered, and at once began to speak:—

From Literature

Likewise with experiences that seem like hauntings and possessions, psychic or premonitory events, or brushes with the strange “tricksters” that used to be read as faeries and now get interpreted, in the light of science fiction and the space age, as extraterrestrials.

From New York Times

Related Words

• apocalyptic
• dangerous
• dark
• dire
• dismal
• gloomy
• grim
• haunting
• perilous
• portentous
• prophetic
• sinister
• threatening