ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Parlous

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈpɑːləs/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Parlous is an adjective meaning Attended with peril; dangerous, risky.

Meaning

Attended with peril; dangerous, risky.

More Meanings

  1. Appalling, dire, terrible.
  2. (rare or obsolete, also England, dialectal) Dangerously clever or cunning; also, remarkably good or unusual.
  3. (archaic) Extremely, very.

Example Sentences

in a parlous state
The situation became parlous when the weather made resupply impossible.
The safest way in such a parlous doubt, / Is steady watch and keep a sharp look out.
The preſent panges and parlous thoughts, / That pearceth troubled minds: / Is knowne to none but ſuch I ſay, / That lacke of freedome finds.

Synonyms for parlous

Depending on context, synonyms include dangerous, dangersome, hazardous, jeopardous, wicked, periculous.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dangerous, perilous, precarious, unsafe, touch-and-go, difficult.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.