Definition of PORTEND

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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.

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

That likely does not portend a major-league start until after the All-Star break. — Kevin Acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres notes: Yates' big week; Lucchesi's workload; roster moves," 7 July 2018 AliExpress does portend capitalism’s collapse: Dresses that cost $16 degrade wages and the environment, for the sake of an obscene, always-accelerating demand for cheap stuff. — Alice Hines, New York Times, "Letter of Recommendation: AliExpress," 11 Apr. 2018 The current explosion of biological knowledge, Mr Castilla felt, portended many more such opportunities. — The Economist, "GenomicsSequencing the world," 23 Jan. 2018 Eight-speed automatic to eAWD Parting shot: Unnoticeable plug-in portends a cleaner, brighter future. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Volvo surges ahead of competition with XC60 plug-in hybrid," 6 Dec. 2017 Yet those who champion Mr. Scott's inclusion say his win could portend more awards for food purveyors who aren't bound by classical standards, since he's essentially laid out a path for winning attention and acclaim. — Stephanie Barna, The Christian Science Monitor, "South Carolina pitmaster breaks mold as James Beard winner," 21 May 2018 Major Turkish companies are now trying to persuade banks and other creditors to extend relief, perhaps portending a wave of bankruptcies that could leave financial institutions and taxpayers staring at untold losses. — New York Times, "Turkey’s Economy Is So Hot That It May Face a Meltdown," 10 July 2018 Whether Asher’s apparent discomfort portends actual trouble for Wagner remains to be seen. — Andrew Seidman, Philly.com, "Scott Wagner cast himself as Trump-like in his run for Pa. governor. Some Philly-area GOP donors aren't feeling it," 2 July 2018 Now investors are debating whether Europe is set for a catch-up as the tax effects wash out and the U.S. dollar regains its footing, or whether a recent slowdown in the region’s economic data portends a bumpier road ahead. — Riva Gold, WSJ, "America’s Profit Boom Leaves Europe Inc. Playing Catch-Up," 23 May 2018

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.