Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To serve as an omen or a warning of; presage.
- transitive verb To indicate by prediction; forecast.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To stretch forth; protend.
- To betoken; presage; signify in advance; foreshow.
- Synonyms To forebode, augur, presage, threaten, foreshadow. See
omen .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To indicate (events, misfortunes, etc.) as in future; to foreshow; to foretoken; to bode; -- now used esp. of unpropitious signs.
- transitive verb rare To stretch out before.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive to serve as a
warning oromen - verb transitive to
signify ; todenote
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb indicate by signs
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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What these stories portend is a pattern of naturalistic thought that permeates the greater part of all of Jack London's writing after 1902.
“The Kipling of the Klondike”: Naturalism in London's Early Fiction 2010
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Wonder if he thinks 'portend' means 'feel very good'.
Latest Articles U. S. News 2009
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That Obama and Reagan are still almost identical poll twins could portend good news for the current occupant of the Oval Office down the road.
Obama and Reagan: poll twins Jonathan Capehart 2011
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What they portend is that—just as Wells had written at the start of "War of the Worlds"—an old, arid world with its dried-up canals is now intent on conquest.
Why Steampunk's Time Has Come Tom Shippey 2011
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LONDON—A crack opened in Europe's credit markets last week that could portend deeper trouble for the region's banks and governments.
Bond Deal May Augur More European Travails Sara Schaefer Muñoz 2011
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But over time, his former crew comes to his aid and, realizing his visions portend certain doom unless they do something, team up with their former Captain to save the Galaxy from certain destruction.
5 Lessons Tiger Woods Could’ve Learned from Watching Star Trek | Fandomania 2010
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Although there are signs that an increasing number of mental health experts are taking an honest look at the facts regarding homosexual behavior and sexual orientation therapy, there are other signs that portend an even darker future for the profession.
Science 2009
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But with millions of people nearing the end of their working lives, low rates also portend meager returns on fixed-income investments.
Living in a Low-Rate World Matt Phillips 2011
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Ravages of age: Glacier National Park turns 100, but melting glaciers portend big changes resources | Recommend
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But leasing activity and excited explorers portend a bonanza, analysts and executives say.
Producers, Refiners Sniff Opportunity in Rust Belt Oil Shale Ryan Dezember 2011
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