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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
Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Despite causing tensions between Biden and Netanyahu, the move did not portend any major changes in the war.
—Jennifer Hansler, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
That could portend a ballot measure in 2026 or 2028, depending on the report's conclusions.
—Andrew Keatts, Axios, 10 Feb. 2025
Carlile hasn’t announced further plans for 2025, but did premiere a new song at Girls Just Wanna that would seem to portend an album this year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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portend
verb
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