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.
Example Sentences
The distant thunder portended a storm. If you're superstitious, a black cat portends trouble.
Recent Examples on the WebThe appointment could portend a new era for the business news cable channel. Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2022 Does the reversal of Roe v. Wade portend more civil rights reversals?Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2022 The cuts from Russia are not an immediate threat to consumers, analysts say, but could portend significant gas shortages later in the year. Kate Brady, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 To some dealers and auto industry experts, those moves portend a wholesale shift in how carmakers envision the future of sales. The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2022 To some dealers and auto industry experts, those moves portend a wholesale shift in how carmakers envision the future of sales. Jacob Bogage And Aaron Gregg, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Feb. 2022 The latter should portend progress in future months. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Christian Yelich was the only left-handed batter in the lineup, but the bottom third consisting of Lorenzo Cain, Mark Mathias and Victor Caratini also didn't seem to portend an offensive breakout. Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 May 2022 That quote would seem to portend a mournful reflection on death and the sacrifices of art, but sparks of illumination, irreverence, tragicomedy and even joy continually fleck the material. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin portendere, from por- forward (akin to per through) + tendere to stretch — more at for, thin