Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Premonitory \Pre*mon"i*to*ry\, a. [L. praemonitorius.] Giving previous warning or notice; as, premonitory symptoms of disease. -- Pre*mon"i*to*ri*ly, adv.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1640s, from Late Latin praemonitorius, from praemonitor, agent noun from stem of praemonere (see premonition).
Wiktionary
a. Serving as a warning.
WordNet
adj. warning of future misfortune [syn: precursory]
Usage examples of "premonitory".
There were all kinds of Guatemalan birds in cages along the passageways, and premonitory curlews, and swamp herons with long yellow legs, and a young stag who came in through the windows to eat the anthurium in the flowerpots.
Jean de Luz, if Riette would consent to reside there, Lord Fleetwood's absence and the neighbourhood of the war were reckoned on to preserve his yokefellow from any fit of the abominated softness which she had felt in one premonitory tremor during their late interview, and deemed it vile compared with the life of action and service beside, almost beside, her brother, sharing his dangers at least.
When facts, the premonitory symptoms of latent social malady, move heavily, the slightest complication stops and entangles them.
A queer premonitory tingling raced all over his peripheral nervous system, like a pain looking for its proper place to settle down and begin aching.
Across the room a premonitory squawk from an elevated platform warned of music to come.