presentiment

[ pri-zen-tuh-muhnt ]

noun

1. a feeling or impression that something is about to happen, especially something evil; foreboding.

presentiment

/ prɪˈzɛntɪmənt /

noun

1. a sense of something about to happen; premonition

Other Words From

• pre·senti·mental adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of presentiment¹

1705–15; < French, now obsolete spelling of pressentiment. See pre-, sentiment

Word History and Origins

Origin of presentiment¹

C18: from obsolete French, from pressentir to sense beforehand; see pre- , sentiment

Example Sentences

He was left, he later confessed, with a “presentiment—a secret conviction...that I am destined for terrible trials.”

From Literature

I persuaded myself that I knew he was taken; that there was something more upon my mind than a fear or a presentiment; that the fact had occurred, and I had a mysterious knowledge of it.

From Literature

For I had a presentiment that I should never be there again, and I felt that the dying light was suited to my last view of it.

From Literature

Mrs. Hubble shook her head, and contemplating me with a mournful presentiment that I should come to no good, asked, “Why is it that the young are never grateful?”

From Literature

However, my tenderest feelings are about to receive a shock: such is my presentiment; stay now, to see whether it will be realised.”

From Literature