What Does It Mean to Be Portentous?

portentous \por-TEN-tuss\ adjective. 1 : of, relating to, or constituting a portent. 2 : eliciting amazement or wonder : prodigious. 3 a : being a grave or serious matter. b : self-consciously solemn or important : pompous.

Is portentous good or bad?

That portends evil; ominous. Puffed up with vanity. The definition of portentous is having the feeling of evil or foreboding. An example of portentus is the mood created by spooky music at a haunted house.

What does portentous mean in an inspector calls?

[Act 1] In the beginning stage directions, Mr Birling is described as 'portentous'. This adjective implies that he is very serious and important.