First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
portend
verb por·tend \pȯr-ˈtend\
: to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen
Full Definition of PORTEND
transitive verb
1
: to give an omen or anticipatory sign of
See portend defined for English-language learners
See portend defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of PORTEND
Other Occult Terms
Rhymes with PORTEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
PORTEND Defined for Kids
portend
verb por·tend \pȯr-ˈtend\
por·tend·edpor·tend·ing
Definition of PORTEND for Kids
: to give a sign or warning of beforehand <Distant thunder portended a storm.>
Learn More About PORTEND
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: portentPrevious Word in the Dictionary: porte–monnaieAll Words Near: portend
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up portend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).