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View synonyms for portend

portend

[ pawr-tend, pohr- ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does:

    The street incident may portend a general uprising.

    Synonyms: forebode, betoken, augur, forecast, foretell

  2. to signify; mean.


portend

/ pɔːˈtɛnd /

verb

  1. to give warning of; predict or foreshadow
  2. obsolete.
    to indicate or signify; mean


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Other Words From

  • unpor·tended adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of portend1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin portendere “to point out, indicate, portend,” variant of prōtendere “to extend”; pro- 1, tend 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of portend1

C15: from Latin portendere to indicate, foretell; related to prōtendere to stretch out

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Example Sentences

These numbers portend to illuminate society-threatening failures within the current immigration enforcement system.

Could the retirement of Rep. Tom Latham, a close friend, portend the exit of Speaker John Boehner as well?

Dissonant music that might otherwise be found in a Kubrick film portend to the worst.

But a small, important minority of these social-media clues portend real pain, struggle, even malice and disaster.

A look at the most bizarre metrics used to portend the winner of the presidential election.

A lofty birth or a large fortune portend merit, and cause it to be the sooner noticed.

He had acted as Ruth had bidden him; but he had no wish to be further involved in this affair, whatever it might portend.

She went on, wondering what this could portend, for since their chance meeting, she had not laid eyes on her neighbor.

If clouds breed high in the air, with white trains like locks of wool, they portend wind, probably rain.

What this obscure threat might portend, I could not see, but it chimed in with the delirious cruelty of the dead sergeant.

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