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

Other Word Forms

• unpor·tended adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portend¹

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

Example Sentences

Great players come back from serious knee injuries every season, and she’s just 19, meaning this would probably be merely an interruption in what still portends to be a long and wondrous career.

From Los Angeles Times

The traumatic toll of the fires on the L.A region’s children cannot be underestimated and may portend long-term difficulties, child development experts say.

From Los Angeles Times

While Reid was considered the most left-leaning of MSNBC’s hosts, her departure does not portend a change in direction at the network, which has a tribal following among political progressives.

From Los Angeles Times

The gags were mild and inoffensive, the perfect way to portend the remainder of the show, which felt the same way.

From Salon

But for those of us who watched it closely at the time, it was a troubling portend of what turned out to be a full-blown fascist movement.

From Salon

Related Words

• augur
• bespeak
• foretell
• predict
• presage