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

• unportended 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

To be sure, some analysts said that the recent declines don’t necessarily portend a prolonged selloff, and were even welcome after signs of froth in a market that had run up so far, so fast.

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The decline is good news for American consumers because cheaper crude portends lower prices for gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and heating oil.

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He also warned the failure could portend more problems lurking in credit markets.

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The strikes portend a tough winter ahead for Ukraine, as Russia aims to make life harder for Ukrainians and sap their morale.

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That has left some investors worried that the rally is kicking up the kind of froth that often portends a downturn.

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Related Words

• augur 
• bespeak 
• foretell 
• predict 
• presage