portend

verb

por·​tend pȯr-ˈtend 

portended; portending; portends

transitive verb

1

: to give an omen or anticipatory sign of

2

: indicate, signify

Did you know?

It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to refer to the dense white fibrous tissue that helps us, well, stretch—but it’s likely true. Portend comes from the Latin verb portendere (“to predict or foretell”), which in turn developed as a combination of the prefix por- (“forward”) and the verb tendere (“to stretch”). Tendere is thought to have led to tendon, among other words. So you might imagine portend as having a literal meaning of “stretching forward to predict.” In any event, the history of the word surely showcases the flexibility of our language.

Examples of portend in a Sentence

The distant thunder portended a storm.

If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.

Recent Examples on the Web

The big picture: Trump portends more protectionism, less U.S. spending and intervention overseas, and a new pecking order in which ideological alliances between leaders can matter more than treaty alliances between countries. —Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

Gusto’s report, Tremper said, portends good things to come in the future—both representationally and economically. —Steven Aquino, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

That portends the influence Trump, as president, will have on the economy and markets. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024

The Class of 2025 portends to be even more significant. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin portendere, from por- forward (akin to per through) + tendere to stretch — more at for, thin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

portend

verb

por·​tend pȯr-ˈtend 

pōr-

: to give a sign or warning of beforehand