The meaning of Parlous

adjective

Causing shock or dismay; horrific.

Usage examples:

The cat suffered appalling injuries during the attack

verb

Greatly dismay or horrify.

Usage examples:

Bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some ministers

adjective

Very bad or unpleasant.

Usage examples:

The place smelled awful

adverb

Awfully; very.

Usage examples:

We're an awful long way from the motorway

adjective

Of poor quality or a low standard.

Usage examples:

A bad diet

adverb

Badly.

Usage examples:

He beat her up real bad

adjective

Unpleasant and causing difficulties

Usage examples:

Our holiday was spoiled by bad weather., we've just had some very bad news., watch out - he's in a …

adjective

Able or likely to cause harm or injury.

Usage examples:

A dangerous animal

adjective

Able or likely to cause harm or death, or unpleasant problems

Usage examples:

Dangerous chemicals/bacteria, whooping cough is most dangerous for infants., dangerously high winds

adjective

Feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with.

Usage examples:

A desperate sadness enveloped ruth

adjective

Showing a willingness to take any risk in order to change a bad or dangerous situation

Usage examples:

The ads are a desperate attempt to win last-minute votes., desperate criminals, there’s a desperate…

adjective

Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand.

Usage examples:

She had a difficult decision to make

adjective

Not easy or simple; hard to do or to understand

Usage examples:

It’s a difficult choice, but i’ve got to decide which job is better., he’s in a difficult situation…

adjective

Extremely serious or urgent.

Usage examples:

Misuse of drugs can have dire consequences

adjective

Very serious or extreme

Usage examples:

Cheating will bring dire consequences.

adjective

Causing or involving great suffering, fear, or unhappiness; extremely bad or serious.

Usage examples:

There's been a dreadful accident

adjective

Very bad

Usage examples:

I realized i had committed a dreadful mistake.

adjective

Very unpleasant, serious, or shocking.

Usage examples:

There's been a most frightful accident

noun

A hole dug in the ground to receive a coffin or dead body, typically marked by a stone or mound.

Usage examples:

The coffin was lowered into the grave

adjective

Giving cause for alarm; serious.

Usage examples:

A matter of grave concern

noun

Another term for grave accent.

adjective

(of circumstances or conditions) very bad; deplorable.

Usage examples:

The industry is in a lamentable state

adjective

Regrettable

Usage examples:

A lamentable failure of nerve

adjective

Full of danger or risk.

Usage examples:

A perilous journey south

adjective

Deserving or arousing pity.

Usage examples:

Two children in a very pitiful state

adjective

Something described as pitiful is not considered to be satisfactory or deserving of respect

Usage examples:

The party is a pitiful example of an opposition party., i was pitifully ill-informed.

adjective

Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

Usage examples:

They were too poor to afford a telephone

adjective

Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

Usage examples:

A precarious ladder

adjective

In danger because not firmly fixed; likely to fall or suffer harm

Usage examples:

I climbed onto a precarious platform to get a better view., the vase was precariously perched on a …

adjective

Full of the possibility of danger, failure, or loss.

Usage examples:

It was much too risky to try to disarm him

adjective

Involving the possibility that something bad might happen or that something will fail or lose money

Usage examples:

Even over the long run, stocks are risky., a risky asset/investment, the travel sector is risky for…

adjective

Demanding or characterized by careful consideration or application.

Usage examples:

Marriage is a serious matter

adjective

Not joking; not intended to amuse

Usage examples:

You can never tell when he’s serious., that’s an interesting job offer – i’d give it serious consid…

adjective

Feeling sad or distressed through sympathy with someone else's misfortune.

Usage examples:

I was sorry to hear about what happened to your family

adjective

Extremely bad or serious.

Usage examples:

A terrible crime

adjective

Having an uncertain, and possibly bad result

Usage examples:

At one point, the operation was touch-and-go.

noun

A manoeuvre in which an aircraft touches the ground as in landing and immediately takes off again.

Usage examples:

I tried a few touch-and-goes

adjective

Not able to be relied on; not known or definite.

Usage examples:

An uncertain future

adjective

Unclear, or not sure

Usage examples:

She faces an uncertain future., we’re uncertain of the cause of death., [ u ] they live in uncertai…

adjective

Not safe; dangerous.

Usage examples:

Drinking water in some areas may be unsafe

adjective

Dangerous, or at risk

Usage examples:

The bridge is closed because it’s unsafe., carol feels unsafe in planes.

adjective

(of a person) in a very unhappy or unfortunate state.

Usage examples:

I felt so wretched because i thought i might never see you again

adjective

Unhappy or extremely sad

Usage examples:

He looked so ill and wretched as he spoke that he made me feel wretched myself., workers lived in w…