See Also: parlous(dictionary)
parlous(dictionary)

parlous (iou)



parlous adjective & adverb. Now arch. & dial. LME.
[Syncopated form of PERILOUS.]
A. adjective.
Perilous, dangerous. LME.
b. Awkward, precarious; risky to deal with. M17.
George Eliot Chapman's business affairs were in such a parlous state..he could pay her nothing.
Keen, shrewd; cunning; malicious; wicked. Also, extraordinary, excessive. LME.
b. adverb. In a parlous manner, esp. excessively. L16.
parlously adverb LME.
parlousness noun M16.