parlous

adjective

par·​lous ˈpär-ləs How to pronounce parlous (audio)
1
obsolete : dangerously shrewd or cunning
2
: full of danger or risk
parlously adverb

Did you know?

Parlous is both a synonym and a derivative of perilous; it came to be as an alteration of perilous in Middle English. (Perilous is derived from the Anglo-French perilleus, which ultimately comes from the Latin word for "danger," perīculum.) Both words are documented in use from at least the 14th century. Seven centuries later, both remain in steady use, often modifying state or times; however, perilous is, by far, the preferred synonym. More than likely, this is from having the familiar peril as a base.

Examples of parlous in a Sentence

The company is in a parlous financial situation. He talked about the parlous state of the country.
Recent Examples on the Web The movie examines the experiences of four Mexican journalists to illustrate the parlous state of the press in Mexico, where at least 165 journalists have been killed or gone missing since 1992. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 The second reason why Starmer cannot ignore the parlous state of the union is the strong connection between power and prosperity. Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024 Given the parlous state of Pyongyang’s relations with Washington and Seoul since the failure of the Hanoi summit in 2019, there are few guardrails in place to prevent complex situations from spiraling out of control. Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024 The challenge in Arizona will be especially fraught given the parlous condition of the Arizona Republican Party. The Editors, National Review, 11 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for parlous 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parlous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, variant of perilous perilous (through loss of medial syllable and regular lowering and backing of e)

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of parlous was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near parlous

Cite this Entry

“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parlous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

parlous

adjective
par·​lous ˈpär-ləs How to pronounce parlous (audio)
parlously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on parlous

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