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From the M-W Editors
portend was our Word of the Day on 02/18/2013. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of portend in a Sentence
The distant thunder portended a storm.
If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.
Recent Examples of portend from the Web
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Authorities and experts believe the migration of fentanyl into other drug supplies portends major problems.
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Authorities and experts believe the migration of fentanyl into other drug supplies portends major problems.
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The find may portend other rapid evolutionary changes across the globe as humans continue to dramatically alter the natural landscape.
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The move portends a potentially tougher stance by the administration of President Trump against Lebanon in the months ahead and has sent alarm bells ringing in Beirut and among the Army’s supporters in Washington.
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But the collapse of this third section could also portend worse things to come for the ice shelf, write Jugal K. Patel and Justin Gillis for The New York Times.
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The action, which portends the establishment of the nation’s first overseas military base, is especially significant in light of Djibouti’s advantageous location at the Horn of Africa.
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Whether in ancient Rome or ancient China, nothing portended calamity like an emperor who flouted the formalities.
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Whether in ancient Rome or ancient China, nothing portended calamity like an emperor who flouted the formalities.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'portend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Portend has been used in English in the context of signs of things to come since the 15th century. The word derives from the Latin verb portendere, which means "to predict or foretell." That verb, in turn, developed as a combination of the prefix por- (meaning "forward") and the verb "tendere" (meaning "to stretch"). So you can think of "portend" as having a literal meaning of "stretching forward to predict." Additional descendants of "tendere" include "extend," "tendon," and "tension," among others.
Other Occult Terms
PORTEND Defined for English Language Learners
portend
play
verb
Definition of portend for English Language Learners
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: to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
PORTEND Defined for Kids
portend
play
verb
por·tend
\
pȯr-ˈtend
\
Definition of portend for Students
portended;
portending
:to give a sign or warning of beforehand
- Distant thunder portended a storm.
Learn More about portend
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See words that rhyme with portend Spanish Central: Translation of portend Nglish: Translation of portend for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
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