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Presentiment: meaning, definitions and examples

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presentiment

 

[prɪˈzɛntɪmənt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

feeling

A presentiment is a feeling or belief that something is going to happen, especially something unpleasant, before it actually does. It is often based on intuition or gut instinct.

Synonyms

foreboding, intuition, premonition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
presentiment

Similar to the first entry, it is used for a general sense that something is about to occur, often without any logical basis.

  • She couldn’t shake the presentiment that she was being watched
  • This morning, John had a presentiment that the day would bring some surprises
premonition

Describes a strong feeling or vision that something specific, often unfavorable, is going to happen. It usually implies a somewhat prophetic quality.

  • She had a premonition of the car accident before it happened
  • His premonition about the business failing came true
foreboding

Often used in situations that involve a strong sense of impending doom or something bad occurring. It tends to have a negative connotation.

  • As she walked through the dark alley, she felt a sense of foreboding
  • The silence in the house gave him a feeling of foreboding
intuition

Used to describe a person’s ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. Not necessarily related to future events.

  • Her intuition told her that something was wrong
  • He trusted his intuition and decided not to take the job

Examples of usage

  • I had a presentiment that something bad was going to happen.
  • She couldn't shake off the presentiment of impending doom.
  • His presentiment turned out to be true when the accident occurred.
  • The presentiment of danger lingered in the air.
  • Despite no evidence, she couldn't ignore the presentiment.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'praesentire', meaning 'to feel beforehand'.
  • In the 19th century, it started to be used in English literature to describe a foreboding feeling.
  • It combines 'pre-' meaning 'before' and 'sentiment', highlighting the idea of sensing events ahead of time.

Psychology

  • Studies show that people often have gut feelings about events that can be attributed to subconscious awareness of some cues.
  • Individuals with high emotional intelligence may experience more frequent presentiments because they can pick up on subtle social signals.
  • The phenomenon can be linked to anxiety disorders, where heightened awareness leads to a constant state of alertness for potential threats.

Literature

  • Presentiment is a common theme in various literary works, often used to create suspense or foreshadowing.
  • Notable authors like Edgar Allan Poe often explored this feeling, portraying characters who sensed impending doom.
  • In Shakespeare's plays, characters often experience foreboding feelings, which enrich the plot with drama.

Pop Culture

  • In films and TV shows, a presentiment often leads to critical plot twists, where characters have an instinct about future danger.
  • Songs about feeling something bad is going to happen evoke the idea of presentiment, tapping into listeners' emotions.
  • Supernatural themes in media frequently include characters with the ability to sense future events, showcasing the allure of presentiments.

Philosophy

  • Philosophers have debated whether presentiments are a real psychological phenomenon or just a product of cognitive biases.
  • Some argue that the feeling of knowing something before it happens aligns with concepts of fate and determinism.
  • The idea raises questions about free will and whether our actions are influenced by those intuitive premonitions.

Translations

Translations of the word "presentiment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pressentimento

🇮🇳 पूर्वाभास

🇩🇪 Vorahnung

🇮🇩 firasat

🇺🇦 передчуття

🇵🇱 przeczucie

🇯🇵 予感 (yokan)

🇫🇷 pressentiment

🇪🇸 presentimiento

🇹🇷 önsezi

🇰🇷 예감 (yegam)

🇸🇦 شعور مسبق

🇨🇿 předtucha

🇸🇰 predtucha

🇨🇳 预感 (yùgǎn)

🇸🇮 slutnja

🇮🇸 forspá

🇰🇿 алдын ала сезу

🇬🇪 წინათგრძნობა (ts'inatgrznoba)

🇦🇿 öncəgörmə

🇲🇽 presentimiento

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,658, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.