English vocabulary · C1
Presentiment
/prɪˈzentəmənt/ · n.
Presentiment means a feeling that something will happen before there is a clear sign. It often makes a person stop and wait.
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Example sentences
- She had a presentiment of danger.
- His dark presentiment soon came true.
Word origin and roots
from Latin through French
- pre — before (from Latin through French)
- sent — feel (from Latin through French)
Synonyms and nuances
- PREMONITION — a strong feeling about a future event (Warning Beforehand)
- FOREBODING — a feeling that something bad will happen (Fear Of What Comes)
- HUNCH — an idea based on feeling (Feeling Without Proof)
Words with the same root
sent — feel
- sense — a feeling or meaning
- sensation — a physical feeling
- sentiment — a feeling or opinion
Lesson notes
Presentiment means a feeling that something will happen before there is a clear sign. It often makes a person stop and wait.
Related: premonition, foreboding, hunch. Use presentiment when you feel something will happen before any clear sign appears.
She had a presentiment of danger. His dark presentiment soon came true.
From Latin through French. Pre- means before. Sent means feel. Together, presentiment is a feeling before an event.