portent

por·tent

noun \ˈpȯr-ˌtent\

Definition of PORTENT

1

: something that foreshadows a coming event : omen, sign

2

: prophetic indication or significance

3

: marvel, prodigy

Examples of PORTENT

1. <a red sky in the morning can be a portent of a coming storm>
2. <a scout was sent to have a look at this teenage pitcher who was supposed to be the latest portent of the baseball world>

Origin of PORTENT

Latin portentum, from neuter of portentus, past participle of portendere

First Known Use: circa 1587

Related to PORTENT

Synonyms

augury, auspice, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, omen, prefiguring, presage

Related Words

forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor; foretaste, hint, inkling, intimation, suggestion; forewarning; forecast, foretelling, prediction, prognostication, prophecy (also prophesy); badge, mark, note, token; divination

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

Rhymes with PORTENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent