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
Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
The European Central Bank on Thursday cut its main interest rate as Trump’s tariffs portend to impact the region’s economy.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
Entering last year’s Masters, Morikawa’s numbers weren’t portending greatness ahead.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
All of his best highlights seem to portend defeat for his team, including other poster dunks on Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert and Houston’s Cam Whitmore this season.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 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 15 May. 2025.
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portend
verb
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