portend

[ pawr-tend, pohr- ]
/ pɔrˈtɛnd, poʊr- /

verb (used with object)

to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does: The street incident may portend a general uprising.
to signify; mean.

Origin of portend

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin portendere to point out, indicate, portend, variant of prōtendere to extend. See pro-1, tend1

SYNONYMS FOR portend

1 foretell, forecast, augur, promise, forebode.

OTHER WORDS FROM portend

un·por·tend·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH portend

portend pretend (see synonym study at pretend)

Words nearby portend

portative, portative organ, portcullis, porte, porte-cochere, portend, portent, portentous, porter, porter chair, porter's sign

Words related to portending

predict, augur, foretell, presage, bespeak, harbinger, omen, hint, read, prophesy, betoken, adumbrate, forecast, herald, forebode, call, promise, prognosticate, threaten, forewarn

Example sentences from the Web for portending

British Dictionary definitions for portending

portend
/ (pɔːˈtɛnd) /

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin for portend

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