Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Perilous; dangerous: "starting from scratch in parlous economic times” ( Madalynne Reuter).
- adj. Obsolete Dangerously cunning.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Perilous; dangerous; alarming; mischievous.
- Notable; knowing; shrewd.
Wiktionary
- adj. Attended with peril; dangerous; risky.
- adj. Dire, terrible, appalling.
- adj. Dangerously clever or cunning.
- adv. Very, extremely.
GNU Webster's 1913
WordNet 3.0
- adj. fraught with danger
Etymologies
- Middle English, variant of perilous, perilous, from peril, peril; see peril.
Examples
“Bain's legal representative, Nicholas Ellis, referred to "what might be described as the parlous financial state" of Rangers.”
The Guardian: Rangers owner Craig Whyte could profit from threat of administration
“It's in parlous condition, and it's filled with small, pilferable items, such as unopened letters and a rubber stamp that reads "I never answer letters, Ernest Hemingway.”
“Between our omnipresent legislatures which spend our time and money repealing what we lawyers already know, and enacting laws for the courts to set aside, these are what might be called parlous times for the profession, but my long suit is not in understanding statutes, but people.”
“However, Labour's new general secretary, Ray Collins, has admitted its finances remain in a 'parlous' state.”
“He added that the country was in a "parlous" state and was experiencing many problems which were undermining freedom and democracy.”
“He described the condition of the fleet as "parlous".”
“If there be any magnetism in isolated attention, any in steadfast gazing, any in passes of the hand hither and thither -- if there be any magic in _ce doux demi-jour_ so loved in France, in stuff for flattery ready pointed and feathered, in freedom of admiration, "and all in the way of business" -- then is a lovable sitter to a love-like painter in "parlous" vicinity (as the new school would phrase it) to sweet heart-land!”
“This weekend, as he considers the parlous state of his international reputation, he is likely to feeling a lot less comfortable than his one-time party friend.”
The Guardian: Prince Andrew's link to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein taints royalty in US
“Given the parlous state of the music industry in recent years, when Goldman Sachs was appointed to look at Warner's options back in January, the big question was would anyone care at all?”
The Guardian: The sale of Warner Music highlights a turning point for the whole industry
“Moreover, the already limited ability of our leaders to fashion a coherent strategy on other global issues is being further hampered by the repercussions of our parlous economic situation.”
The Huffington Post: Michael Brenner: America and the World -- Post November 2nd
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘parlous’.
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bestiary
agave, incunable, echt, wissenschaft, friscalating, obsolescence, clavier, yajna, ecstatic, casual, protean, hum and 41 more...
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