Ominous
/ˈɒm.ɪ.nəs/noun
Giving a sense that something bad or unpleasant is likely to happen.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin ominosus, meaning “full of omen,” and in Roman culture an omen was a sign from the gods, so the word still carries that ancient sense of fate speaking.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
omen
“A sign, especially one believed to foretell the future.”
Latin
Latin
ominosus
“Full of omens; of or pertaining to a sign or portent.”
Late Latin
Latin
ominōsus
“Foreboding, of bad omen.”
14th Century
English
ominous
“Of the nature of an omen; predictive of future events, especially ill fortune.”
Modern English
English
ominous
“Suggesting that something bad is going to happen.”