Definition of Parlous

1. Adjective. Fraught with danger. "Dangerous surgery followed by a touch-and-go recovery"

Exact synonyms: Perilous, Precarious, Touch-and-go
Similar to: Dangerous, Unsafe
Derivative terms: Peril, Peril, Peril, Perilousness, Precariousness

Definition of Parlous

1. a. Attended with peril; dangerous; as, a parlous cough.

Definition of Parlous

1. Adjective. Attended with peril; dangerous; risky. ¹

2. Adjective. Dire, terrible, appalling. ¹

3. Adjective. (obsolete) Dangerously clever or cunning. ¹

4. Adverb. (archaic) Very, extremely. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Parlous

1. dangerous [adj] - See also: dangerous

Lexicographical Neighbors of Parlous

parlor grand piano
parlormaid
parlormaids
parlors
parlour
parlour-game
parlour car
parlour game
parlour games
parlour grand
parlour grand piano
parlour skate
parlourmaid
parlourmaids
parlours
parlous (current term)
parlously
parly
parm
parma wallabies
parma wallaby
parmacetties
parmacetty
parmesans
parmigiana
parmigiano
parmo
parmos

Literary usage of Parlous

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Glossary of the Cleveland Dialect: Explanatory, Derivative, and Critical by John Christopher Atkinson (1868)
"parlous, adj. Perilous ; but used with the special or arbitrary senses of ... Aye, parlous. The standard Dan. word farlig corresponds as precisely with the ..."

2. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"1982 But these were parlous times —John Brooks, New Yorker, 20 Aug. ... 1979 Yes, these are parlous times on Publishers Row — Ray Walters, NY Times Book ..."

3. The River of Golden Sand: The Narrative of a Journey Through China and by William John Gill, Henry Yule (1880)
"... and the ' parlous Fight' there— Yung-Chang-Fu—Difficulties about Transport—The ' Squeeze ' again —A General on the March—A Quarrel Imminent, ..."

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