portentous /pɔːˈtɛntəs/

• 1. 

  ADJ If someone's way of speaking, writing, or behaving is portentous, they speak, write, or behave more seriously than necessary because they want to impress other people. 自命不凡的; 装腔作势的 [正式]

  例：

  There was nothing portentous or solemn about him. He was bubbling with humour.

  他身上一点也不装腔作势或故作严肃。他幽默十足。

  例：

  ...portentous prose.

  ...矫揉造作的散文。

• 2. 

  portentously ADV [usu ADV with v]

  例：

  "The difference is," he said portentously, "you are Anglo-Saxons, we are Latins."

  他拿腔拿调地说道：“区别在于，你们是盎格鲁-撒克逊人，我们是拉丁人。”

• 3. 

  ADJ Something that is portentous is important in indicating or affecting future events. 预示未来的; 影响重大的 [正式]

  例：

  In social politics, too, the city's contribution to 20th century thought and culture was no less portentous.

  从社会政治学上看，该市对20世纪思想、文化的贡献也同样意义重大。