parlous

/'pɑ:ləs/

Thân thiện

The sailor navigates the parlous waters of the stormy sea.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Full of danger or risk; perilous, hazardous: Describes a situation, condition, or state that is extremely unsafe or fraught with uncertainty. 2. (Archaic or humorous) Extremely clever or shrewd: Used to describe someone who is cunning or astute to a remarkable degree.

Adverb (Archaic): 1. Extremely, very: Used as an intensifier, meaning to a great degree.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Perilous):

  • The climbers faced a parlous ascent up the icy cliff face.
  • The country's economy is in a parlous state, requiring immediate intervention.
  • He found himself in a parlous position, caught between two rival factions.

• Adjective (Shrewd - Archaic/Humorous):

  • The old merchant was a parlous fellow, always striking the best deals. (This usage is now rare and often carries a humorous or old-fashioned tone.)

• Adverb (Extremely - Archaic):

  • The knight was parlous weary after the long battle. (This adverbial form is considered obsolete in modern English.)

Advanced Usage

• The word parlous is derived from "perilous" and often carries a slightly literary, formal, or dramatic tone. It emphasizes a high degree of danger or precariousness.
• It is frequently used in written contexts, such as literature, journalism, or formal reports, to describe deteriorating or risky situations (e.g., , , ).

Variants and Related Words

• Perilous (adj): The more common modern synonym, directly meaning full of peril or danger.
• Precarious (adj): Describes a state of instability and insecurity, often overlapping with parlous.
• Hazardous (adj): Involving risk or danger, especially to health or safety.

Synonyms

• Dangerous
• Perilous
• Hazardous
• Precarious
• Treacherous
• Risky

Antonyms

• Safe
• Secure
• Stable
• Certain

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• In a parlous state/condition: A common collocation describing something that is dangerously weak, unstable, or deteriorated.
  • After years of neglect, the historic building was in a parlous state.
  • Public trust in the institution is in a parlous condition.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. fraught with danger
   • dangerous waters
   • a parlous journey on stormy seas
   • a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat
   • the precarious life of an undersea diver
   • dangerous surgery followed by a touch-and-go recovery

Từ đồng nghĩa

• perilous
• precarious
• touch-and-go