portent
[ pawr-tent, pohr- ]
/ ˈpɔr tɛnt, ˈpoʊr- /
noun
an indication or omen of something about to happen, especially something momentous.
threatening or disquieting significance: an occurrence of dire portent.
a prodigy or marvel.
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RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
portative organ, portcullis, porte, porte-cochere, portend, portent, portentous, porter, porter chair, porter's sign, porter, cole
Origin of portent
1555–65; < Latin portentum sign, token, noun use of neuter of portentus, past participle of portendere to portend
SYNONYMS FOR portent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for portent
British Dictionary definitions for portent
portent
/ (ˈpɔːtɛnt) /
noun
a sign or indication of a future event, esp a momentous or calamitous one; omen
momentous or ominous significancea cry of dire portent
a miraculous occurrence; marvel
Word Origin for portent
C16: from Latin portentum sign, omen, from portendere to portend
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for portent
portent
1560s, from Middle French portente, from Latin portentum "a sign, token, omen; monster, monstrosity," noun use of neuter of portentus, past participle of portendre (see portend).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper