Por*tent"ous (?), a. [L.
portentosus.] 1. Of the nature of a
portent; containing portents; foreshadowing, esp. foreshadowing ill;
ominous.
For, I believe, they are portentous
things.
Shak.
Victories of strange and almost portentous
splendor.
Macaulay.
2. Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful;
dreadful; as, a beast of portentous size.
Roscommon.
-- Por*tent"ous*ly, adv. --
Por*tent"ous*ness, n.