Did you know?
It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to refer to the dense white fibrous tissue that helps us, well, stretch—but it’s likely true. Portend comes from the Latin verb portendere (“to predict or foretell”), which in turn developed as a combination of the prefix por- (“forward”) and the verb tendere (“to stretch”). Tendere is thought to have led to tendon, among other words. So you might imagine portend as having a literal meaning of “stretching forward to predict.” In any event, the history of the word surely showcases the flexibility of our language.
Examples of portend in a Sentence
Robert Lloyd, Twin Cities, 3 July 2025
An order from an unnamed, first-time customer for $1.7 billion in private jets last night could portend a new player in the global business aviation market.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
More details about what Blanchett’s cameo portends for the future of the Squid Game franchise — like, who might direct a new U.S. season, who else would star and/or how involved series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk will be — can be expected from Netflix in the weeks and months ahead.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Then, in a showdown that portends a budding rivalry between sumo’s top warriors, Hōshōryū handed Ōnosato his sole loss in the May tournament finale in Tokyo.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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portend
verb
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