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Ominous vs Dolorous - What's the difference?

ominous | dolorous | Related terms |

Ominous is a related term of dolorous.


As adjectives the difference between ominous and dolorous

is that ominous is of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant while dolorous is solemnly or ponderously sad.

ominous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
  • Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen; threatening; portentous; inauspicious.
  • * California poll support for Jerry Brown's tax increases has ominous implications for U.S. taxpayers too Los Angeles Times Headline April 25, 2011
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 29 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992) citation , page= , passage=The idea of a merchant selling both totems of pure evil and frozen yogurt (he calls it frogurt!) is amusing in itself, as is the idea that frogurt could be cursed, but it’s really the Shopkeeper’s quicksilver shift from ominous doomsaying to chipper salesmanship that sells the sequence.}}

    Usage notes

    * Formerly used both in a favorable and unfavorable sense; now chiefly in the latter; foreboding or foreshadowing evil; inauspicious; as, an ominous dread. * Nouns to which "ominous" is often applied: sign, silence, warning, cloud, note, sound, shadow, threat, music, tone, implication, message, presence, development, voice, portent, turn, sky, figure, dream, event, trend, change, day, beginning, growl, cry, signal, pattern.

    Synonyms

    * portentous * threatening

    Derived terms

    * ominously * ominousness

    Related terms

    * omen

    External links

    * *

    dolorous

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Solemnly or ponderously sad.
  • * 1596 , , The Faerie Queene , Book 5, Canto 4:
    • Through dolorous despaire, which she conceyved,
    Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw,
    Thinking to have her griefe by death bereaved.
  • * 1645 , , "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity", stanza 14:
    • . . . Hell itself will pass away,
    And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.
  • * 1859 , , A Tale of Two Cities , ch. 30:
    • From this prison here of horror, whence I every hour tend nearer and nearer to destruction, I send you . . . the assurance of my dolorous and unhappy service.
  • * '>citation
  • * 2001 June 24, Stefan Kanfer, " Author, Teacher, Witness," Time :
    • As World War II came to a close, the gaunt and dolorous child was liberated at yet another death camp, Buchenwald.