different between ominous vs jinx

English

Etymology

From Latin ominosus (“full of foreboding”), from omen (“forbidden fruit, omen”), from os (“the mouth”) + -men.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??m?n?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??m?n?s/
• Hyphenation: o?mi?nous

Adjective

ominous (comparative more ominous, superlative most ominous)

1. Of or pertaining to an omen or to omens; being or exhibiting an omen; significant.
2. Specifically, giving indication of a coming ill; being an evil omen

   Synonyms: threatening, portentous, inauspicious

   • California poll support for Jerry Brown's tax increases has ominous implications for U.S. taxpayers too Los Angeles Times Headline April 25, 2011

Usage notes

• Formerly used both in a favorable and unfavorable sense; now chiefly in the latter; foreboding or foreshadowing evil; inauspicious; as, an ominous dread.
• Nouns to which "ominous" is often applied: sign, silence, warning, cloud, note, sound, shadow, threat, music, tone, implication, message, presence, development, voice, portent, turn, sky, figure, dream, event, trend, change, day, beginning, growl, cry, signal, pattern.

Synonyms

• portentous
• sinister
• threatening

Derived terms

• ominously
• ominousness

Related terms

• omen
• abomination

Translations

Further reading

• ominous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ominous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• suimono

English

Etymology

From jynx in the transferred sense “a charm or spell”.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /d???ks/
• Homophone: jynx
• Rhymes: -??ks

Noun

jinx (plural jinxes)

1. A hex; an evil spell.

   Synonyms: curse, hoodoo, Indian sign, spell

2. A person or thing supposed to bring bad luck.

Derived terms

• reverse jinx

Translations

Verb

jinx (third-person singular simple present jinxes, present participle jinxing, simple past and past participle jinxed)

1. (transitive) To cast a spell on.
2. (transitive) To bring bad luck to.
3. (transitive) To cause something to happen by mentioning it, usually sarcastically.
   • 2008, Susane Colasanti, When It Happens, Penguin (?ISBN), chapter 46:

     “So you'll all be near New York!” Maggie says. “We don't know for sure yet.” Sara stresses. “Don't jinx it.”

   • 2012, Sally Heinrich, Hungry Ghosts, Hachette UK (?ISBN)

     I've no idea if she guessed what I was intending to do. I don't know why I was so reluctant to talk about it, even to her. Maybe I was afraid that verbalising my intentions would jinx it in some way.

Derived terms

• jinxer

Translations

Interjection

jinx

1. Used after the same thing is said by two people simultaneously.

   Synonym: snap

Translations

Further reading

• jinx on Wikipedia.Wikipedia