Question

three dead trees on the moor below, burned up alive by lightning, are ominous portents. source: grendel in this sentence, ominous means: presaging ill fortune attracting or delighting fully perfected characterized by ceremony

Explanation:

The word "ominous" is often used to describe something that suggests bad things will happen. In the context of the sentence, dead trees burned by lightning are seen as signs (portents). "Presaging ill fortune" (predicting bad luck) fits this context. "Attracting or delighting" is positive, which doesn't match the negative tone. "Fully perfected" and "characterized by ceremony" have no relation to the context of something being a bad sign.

Answer:

presaging ill fortune