Premonition
A premonition is a feeling or sense that something will happen before it occurs, often with an unpleasant or warning-like character.
A premonition is a feeling or sense that something will happen before it occurs, often with an unpleasant or warning-like character. In standard dictionaries, it can mean either an advance warning or an intuition of a future event without a clear conscious reason. The term is used in Canadian English with the same meaning as in other varieties of English, especially in general language, literature, and discussions of paranormal beliefs.
Meaning and usage
Premonition is used for a warning or intuition about a future event, especially when the reason for the feeling is not conscious or not clearly known. In everyday English, it often suggests unease about something bad that may happen.
Etymology
The term comes through French from Late Latin praemonitio and Latin praemonere, meaning to warn in advance. Dictionary sources place the word in use from the mid-16th century or earlier modern English.
Paranormal interpretation
In paranormal and spiritualist writing, a premonition may be treated as a clairvoyant impression, dream, or vision that appears to anticipate a later event. Encyclopedic and dictionary sources note that such uses overlap with precognition and related claims.
Key facts
- A premonition is a feeling or warning that something will happen in the future, often without a clear reason.
- The word often refers to unpleasant events, but some dictionaries define it more broadly as a feeling about any future event.
- Premonition is closely related to terms such as presentiment, foreboding, and forewarning.
- In paranormal contexts, premonition may be discussed as a clairvoyant impression, dream, or vision.
- The word originates from Latin roots meaning 'warn in advance.'
The term is used in Canadian English with the same meaning as in other varieties of English, especially in general language, literature, and discussions of paranormal beliefs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a premonition?
Does premonition always mean something bad?
Is premonition the same as presentiment?
Is premonition a paranormal term?
What is the origin of the word premonition?
References
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premonitionSupports: Dictionary definition as forewarning or anticipation of an event without conscious reason
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/premonitionSupports: Definition as a feeling that something, especially unpleasant, is going to happen
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/premonitionSupports: Synonyms such as presentiment, foreboding, intuition, omen, and sign
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/premonitionSupports: Meaning and word origin from French and Latin roots
- Collins English Dictionary — https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/premonitionSupports: Definitions including forewarning and a feeling that something bad will happen
- Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/premonitionSupports: Definition as a feeling or belief that something will happen without definite reason
- Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/other-religious-beliefs-and-general-terms/miscellaneous-religion/premonitionSupports: Paranormal usage and distinction from prediction